WO2000031668A1

WO2000031668A1 - Method of automated data recordal and gaming machine accessory

Info

Publication number: WO2000031668A1
Application number: PCT/NZ1999/000191
Authority: WO
Inventors: Aaron James Westerby
Original assignee: Aaron James Westerby
Priority date: 1998-11-20
Filing date: 1999-11-16
Publication date: 2000-06-02
Also published as: AU1085900A

Abstract

A Gaming Machine soft meter data recording apparatus including a central processing unit, means to switch the gaming machine into audit mode, signal capture means to capture signals representing soft meter data, and character recognition means to identify information in the electrical signals and allow further processing of that information. The soft meter data may be reconciled against hard meter data recorded by the gaming machine and may be communicated to a central control unit.

Description

METHOD OF AUTOMATED DATA RECORDAL AND GAMING MACHINE ACCESSORY

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for collecting soft meter data from video gaming machines.

BACKGROUND

A gaming machine is a machine or device that is constructed or adapted for use in the game of chance where a player supplies a stake and plays the game in an attempt to win a pay out, generally in the form of money.

Most gaming machines have a system board which uses a microprocessor to drive their operation. A video gaming machine is a gaming machine which makes use of a video screen as part of its interface with the player. Another type of gaming machine is known as a "reeler". Instead of having a video screen a typical reeler has a number of spinning electro-mechanical reels as part of its player interface. A gaming machine's performance and operation are recorded using a number of meters. Examples of these meters, each of which is expressed as a number, include but is not limited to the machines turnover, total wins, cash in, cash out, bank notes in, bank notes out, coins in, coins out, cash box, cancelled credits and hopper refills, etc.

A typical gaming machine generally records this performance data using two independent meter systems, hard meters and soft meters. Hard meters take the form of electromagnetic counters that increment when a pulse is sent from the system board. Soft meters take the form of data that is stored in memory chips on or controlled by the system board. The use of two meter systems allows a method of reconciliation to validate the machine's operating integrity but also provides a backup mechanism in the event of a system board failure. Meter data are displayed or are displayable on the video screen of video gaming machines or on liquid crystal displays (LCDs) of reelers.

The operating of gaming machines in most jurisdictions is a highly regulated industry. In these jurisdictions the collection of accurate meter data is an important requirement as it is used to calculate a machine's profitability and hence the applicable government duty.

A number of devices currently exist which are designed to collect meter data from gaming machines. Some of these devices collect meter data by tapping into the hard meter system and counting the pulses sent from the gaming machine system board. In some jurisdictions this method is considered inadequate since disconnection of the device from the gaming machine could mean that counting of pulses is missed and therefore an accurate measure of the machine's performance in operation is lost.

Only soft meters provide a definitive "snap-shot" of a machine's performance in operation. Some gaming machines provide an active communication port that is driven by the system board for downloading the soft meter data. A number of devices are available which collect soft meter data via this port. However, the communication protocols employed are often specific to (and rigorously guarded by) each manufacturer so that it is not possible to obtain data from all machines with a single device (except in jurisdictions where legislation/regulation demands the use of a common system). Also, a significant number of gaming machines have no active communication port, and even if they are capable of taking an upgrade incorporating an active communication port this is usually only at considerable expense.

At present, for a gaming machine with no active communication port, it is necessary to manually read soft meter data from the visual display of the machine. In order to do this, the machine must first be put into audit mode, enabling the display of soft meter data. This is usually performed via an audit key switch located on the side of the machine chassis. It may then be necessary to use the gaming buttons to navigate a series of screens of soft meter data to identify the required data. That data must then be manually recorded.

It is known to be able to capture the whole or part of a video screen image by interrupting the output signal to a video screen. For example United States patent specification no. 5,746,656 discloses the use of such a process for the purpose of identifying a video game score, recording that score and forwarding it to a remote location for comparison with corresponding scores achieved by other players on other gaming machines. In that specification the capturing of a game score is initiated by the player themselves. Furthermore, once the game score has been captured and the data processed with character recognition programs to extract any alphanumeric information, the player verifies or not the captured information. Thus, the device of US 5,746,656 is dependent on user operation and activation, and is not specifically adapted to enable access to soft meter data. Furthermore, it is not designed to verify the accuracy of data to a level necessary for, for example, the calculation of government duties.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for recording soft meter data from gaming machines which reduces or overcomes the above-mentioned problems, or which at least provides the public with a useful alternative.

Other objects of the invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided gaming machine soft meter data recording apparatus, including:

a central processing unit, activation means adapted to switch the gaming machine into audit mode thereby generating one or more electrical signals representing soft meter data,

electrical signal capture means adapted to capture the or each electrical signal or a part thereof from the gaming machine in audit mode,

character recognition means adapted to identify and verify any alpha numeric information in the captured electrical signal or signals, and

random access memory in which to store digital data resulting from identified and verified electrical signals.

In one preferred form the apparatus of the present invention may further include communication means adapted to communicate the stored data to a central control unit.

Preferably, the apparatus may further include recording means for recording hard meter data.

Preferably, the recording means for recording hard meter data may be electrically isolated from the rest of the soft meter data recording apparatus.

Preferably, the activation means may include audit mode switching means and soft data display selection means.

Preferably the soft data display selection means may include electronic means adapted to simulate the manual operation of one or more game control buttons.

Preferably, apparatus of the present invention may further include preprogrammed information adapted to enable the activation means to switch a gaming machine into audit mode and/or select the required soft meter data for any given gaming machine.

In one preferred form the apparatus of the invention may be adapted for use with video games, the electrical signal or signals representing a video signal.

Preferably, the apparatus may further include switching means adapted to enable modification of a video image from the video game display output before being displayed on the video game screen.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a gaming machine including soft meter data recording apparatus as hereinbefore defined.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of automated collection of soft meter data from a gaming machine, said method including the steps of:

switching a gaming machine into audit mode to display soft meter data,

capturing one or more electrical signal or parts thereof representing the soft meter data,

analysing the captured electrical signal or signals, or selected parts, to identify and verify digital data, and

storing the verified digital data.

Preferably, the method may further include the step of selecting particular soft meter data. Preferably, the method may further include the step of communicating the verified digital data to a central control unit.

Preferably, the method may further include disabling the gaming machine's relevant game buttons during the collection of soft meter data.

Preferably, the method may further include recording hard meter data from the gaming machine.

Preferably, the method may further include reconciling verified digital data with recorded hard meter data.

Preferably, the method may further include checking that hard meter data recorded before and after placing the gaming machine in audit mode is consistent.

Preferably, the method may further include ascertaining the state of the gaming machine before it is switched into audit mode and terminating or postponing the collection of soft meter data if the gaming machine is in a specified state.

Preferably, the electrical signal or signals is or are in the format of a video signal.

Preferably, capturing of the one or more video signal or parts thereof may include generating one or more pixel clocks under pre-determined conditions.

Preferably, the pre-determined conditions may include RGB colour selection, composite or separate synchronisation selection, font selections and/or expected video signal voltage.

Preferably, the method may further include adjusting the capture predetermined conditions to optimise the video signal. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided gaming machine soft meter data collection apparatus substantially as herein described, and with reference to the accompanying figures.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of recording gaming machine soft meter data substantially as herein described and with reference to the accompanying figures.

Other aspects of the present invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figures 1A-B: Show a flow diagram of the operation of the method of automated collection of soft meter data of the invention in one preferred form;

Figures 2A-C: Show flow diagrams detailing the optical character recognition processes used in the method of the invention, as specifically referred to in Figure 1 ;

Figure 3: Shows a schematic representation of the soft meter data recording apparatus of the invention, in one preferred form;

Figure 4: Shows a schematic representation of how the apparatus of

Figure 3 may be included in a network system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A device of the present invention may be integrally incorporated into new gaming machines or may be produced as an accessory for addition to existing games.

Although the example detailed below refers to a video gaming machine it will be appreciated that application is not limited to video signals and the invention could be used as an accessory for a gaming machine utilising a liquid crystal or light emitting diode display or any other electronic display. Where a different display device from a video is used by the gaming machine, the present invention includes the appropriate adaptation to intercept and interpret the display signals to that display device.

An electronic device of the invention (hereinafter referred to as an audit unit) is connected or connectable to a video gaming machine in a manner enabling interception of the video signal to the machine's video screen, activation of the game's audit key and, optionally, operation of one or more of the game control buttons. The audit unit includes a microprocessor unit adapted to capture one or more video signals, if necessary optimise the conditions for capture of a verifiable signal or signals and hence control the accuracy of digital data stored for the or each signal. In addition, the device may include means for communicating stored digital data to a central processing unit.

With reference to Figure 3 an audit unit 1 of the present invention, in a preferred embodiment, has a central processing unit (CPU) 2, an optical character recognition unit 3, random access memory (RAM) 4, communication means 5 and video switching means 6 interconnected to the video processor 7 of the video gaming machine. The unit may also include its own counter 8 which tracks the hard meter data 9 of the gaming machine. A sensor 10 may be provided to enable the CPU to identify when a game is being played, if the machine is in reserve mode or if the machine is in some other predetermined state in which an audit should not be performed. The counter 8 may be connected to the hard meters of the gaming machine, and these counters may be continuously updated whether or not the audit unit has power or is in active mode. The counter 8 may include an independent CPU from the main CPU 2. This is to avoid problems due to slow booting and the required processing for captures and character recognition of the main CPU 2 causing inaccuracies in the reading of the hard meter data 9. The counter 8 may be electrically isolated from the circuitry including the main CPU 2 allowing the counter 8 to have redundancy in its power supply. This redundancy may comprise using the same power source as for the main circuitry when available and reverting to power drawn from the gaming machine should this supply become unavailable. Furthermore, the CPU of the counter 8 may include its own RAM and may further include provisions to permanently store information held in that RAM should the power supply to the counting circuit cease.

The counter may include means to ensure the hard meters are stable before recording any hard meter data 9. This may be achieved by sampling the hard meter data 9 to ensure it has not been updated within a certain time period, which may be software defined, immediately prior to reading.

The CPU 2 is connected, via relays 11 to the audit mode switch 12, and optionally to the gaming buttons 13.

The CPU 2 controls the video processor 7 which interrupts the video signal 14 from a video game on its way to the video monitor 15. The video switching device 6 enables the video from the game to proceed unchanged to the video monitor (route (a)) or to be diverted for the inclusion of additional video patterns, characters, information overlays, or the like via a video overlay unit 16 (route (b)). The video overlay unit 16 alternatively could replace the video signal 14 with an entirely independent video signal.

The device therefore has the ability to transmit it's own pixel data as a replacement for the pixel data that is being broadcast by the gaming machine. This makes possible the ability to write messages and display animation on the gaming machine's video screen that does not originate from the gaming machine's system board. Alternatively the gaming machine's screen can be captured and displayed during the auditing process instead of the actual audit screen used for Optical Character Recognition (OCR). This means that persons nearby would not be aware of the audit process occurring.

The communication means 5 enables communication to other audit units and/or to a central computer or control unit.

The connections to the game^'s audit key and game control buttons may be in the form of "shorts" operated by a relay that can be used to simulate the manual operation of these keys or buttons.

The video processor 7 is connected to the video output connections of the gaming machine in a manner which will be known to persons skilled in the art in order to capture a single frame of video or a part of a single frame of video. It will be appreciated that the device may also capture multiple frames or parts of frames, for example, for gaming machines which display relevant soft meter data over several screens.

The CPU 2 of the device may control:

activation and selection of soft meter data;

analogue to digital conversion of the or each captured video signal, or a composite thereof;

analysis and verification of the or each captured signal;

reconciliation of verified soft meter data with hard meter data;

communication of the unit/device with other units and/or a central computer. The audit unit may be adapted to detect when its video gaming machine has an active video signal. Thus, it may be programmed to initiate an audit, or the capture of data, when the gaming machine is first turned on in any particular day. Alternatively, or in addition, the device may have a real time clock and may be programmed to conduct audits at pre-arranged times, or an audit may be initiated, on demand, from the central computer or management system via the communication means. Retry rules may be programmed into the device to make collection of audit data independent of the central computer. Audit results may be cached in the RAM to allow downloading to the central computer at a future time.

If, when the device of the invention initiates an audit, a game is being played on the gaming machine, the gaming machine is in reserve mode, the machine is in an error state or some other predetermined state, the device will recognise this via the sensor 10. Alternatively, the CPU 2 will recognise that the nature of any video signal captured will not be verifiable. The audit will, therefore, be postponed or cancelled. The state of the machine may also be determined by a combination of sensor 10 and an on-the-fly OCR prior to the activation of the audit switch.

Many gaming machines allow players to establish credits in the machine. The microprocessing unit of a device of the invention may be adapted to record any credits and account for these when verifying captured data.

As shown in Figure 4, audit units 20 of the invention included in gaming machines 22, may be connected in series, so that a network of machines may be controlled from a central computer 21.

The method by which a device of the present invention functions will now be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

With reference to Figure 1 A, initiation of an audit may be via the PC or may be pre-programmed into the CPU 2, although Figure 1 shows initiation of an audit from the central computer or PC. It will be appreciated that the CPU of a unit of the present invention may be programmed to do things other than initiate an audit, in which case control of a gaming machine for purposes other than auditing may be initiated by the central computer at any time. For example, the gaming machine could be automatically disabled, a specific video signal overlay or replacement signal could be introduced to the video screen to communicate with a player or the operator of the machine, or there could be remote automatic diagnosis of machine faults.

If there is a command to initiate an audit then the first step is to check whether a game is being played or is in reserve mode. This may be done via a connection to one or more game buttons via sensor 10; by on-the-fly OCR process which identifies keywords or symbols displayed on the video screen reflecting the machine's status (e.g. 'GAME OVER'); or by monitoring the time since the last update of the hard meters, and having regard to the ratio of soft:hard meter increments for the given machine.

Prior to checking whether the machine is being played or is in reserve mode, a check may be made whether the gaming machine has a video signal. If not, the PC is notified.

If the machine is in game play or reserve mode the audit may be postponed or cancelled. If not, a first capture cycle is initiated (details of the capture cycle are outlined below with reference to Figure 2A). This first capture cycle may be to identify player credits. In older machines player credits may be displayed on the game screen rather than any audit screen. If any credits are identified in an audit screen the number is stored for later inclusion in the reconciliation process.

The next step is to disable the game buttons and activate the audit key to be activated. If the value of the credits or some other information is to be obtained from the game screen rather than the audit screen, an additional routine is required. Before placing the machine into audit mode, a subroutine is performed. This is identified in Figure 1 as one possible OTHER option. This subroutine is a capture cycle of the game screen (prior to audit mode), which may be performed by the same process as shown in Figure 2A. The audit key is then invoked and the procedure is the same as below until the audit mode is exited, when an additional capture of the game screen is required.

To extract soft meter data from a video gaming machine an audit unit first uses the audit key to initiate the display of soft meter data. It then, optionally, "operates" the gaming buttons to select the required screen of soft meter data. This selection process will depend on the particular gaming machine and a unit of the invention may be programmed for a given machine or may be preprogrammed to identify any known machine and "operate" the appropriate buttons relevant to that machine.

An important feature of a device of the invention is that it is capable of confirming that it is in audit mode before manipulating the gaming buttons.

Once the required soft meter data has been selected the device initiates a screen capture of a single frame of video. If additional meter data needs to be captured, the next relevant data is displayed and captured. A composite "picture" of multiple screen captures may be formed.

Where soft meter data has to be taken from multiple screens, operation of the gaming buttons is required and this may interfere with a game. Furthermore, since a game may be initiated at any time it is important for the machine to verify that it is in audit mode. This is achieved by conducting one or more screen captures, as indicated in Figure 2A. If the machine is identified as not being in audit mode then the audit process is discontinued and the PC notified. A further on-the-fly OCR may be included to verify that data is captured from the correct audit screen.

If, following the multi-screen audit, the machine is identified as being in audit mode, or where only a single audit screen is required, the next step is to check the stability of the hard meter counters and the validity of the hard meter connection to the gaming machine. If the counters are determined to be stable (unchanging) for a predetermined period as set in associated software, and the connection is valid, the hard meter data on the counter is recorded. If they are not stable or the connection is not valid the gaming machine is taken out of audit mode and the audit process is aborted with an error message returned to the central PC.

Referring now to Figure IB, the button or buttons may be operated to select the required screen and a further capture cycle is then initiated, as shown in Figure 2B. In this case only the capture, and not the verification process, is completed, so that the machine can be switched out of audit mode as quickly as possible.

While in audit mode, the game buttons are disabled from operation by players. They are re-enabled on exit from audit mode. This action is applicable even to single screen audit machines.

After capture of the video screen or screens, the device exits from its audit mode, so as to interfere with the ordinary operation of a gaming machine as little as possible.

If information was captured from the game screen rather than the audit screen a further capture cycle of the game screen is performed. Again this may be similar to that performed in Figure 2A as previously described. The information obtained at this step is compared with the information obtained before audit mode was enabled to ensure that it did not change during the delay between the capturing of the information and entering the audit mode and/or the exiting of the audit mode and the second capturing of the information. If these are different a decision is made whether the audit information is invalid.

Each captured video screen or screens is then processed by optical character recognition means, as described below and with reference to Figure 2C. Verified soft meter data recorded is stored and then reconciled against the hard meter data and the result returned to the central computer or PC.

Different gaming machines may display the credits in different units, for example one may store the credits as an integer whereas another may store it as a currency value or another may display a combination of credits and currency. The character recognition process will recognise these different formats so that they can be identified in further processing and/or conversion.

The video signal capture involves generating a pixel clock using reference to the horizontal and/or vertical synchronisation data and other user-defined variables which may be specific to the machine type.

Since gaming machines of different types may have video signals of composite or separate vertical or horizontal synchronisation, the device of the invention is adapted to capture either composite or separate synchronisation signals.

The device can also select the specific RGB colour combination to capture with a multiplexer, and can automatically calibrate the expected voltage of the video signal.

The user-defined variables may also define the region of the screen in which the required meter data appears and which therefore needs to be captured, and the font employed.

The device of the invention is adapted to initiate a re-calibration routine if captured data is not sufficiently optimised for the current video signal, e.g. by adjusting the colour selection/combination, and for different voltage signals and/or different fonts.

With reference to Figure 2A (and the combination of Figures 2B and C), when capturing a video signal a unit of the invention first checks for a valid video signal. It may then select the specific region of a screen to capture. Capture of the selected video signal is then made as described above, the captured signal is scanned and analysed using optical character recognition techniques involving pattern matching methods to evaluate the captured data. The pattern matching method employed may involve neural networking. Pattern matching may be achieved by examining the video image pixel by pixel and comparing it against a known pixel pattern. The required accuracy of the recognition process, for example the number of pixels that do not match a known pattern, can be externally set. Only captured data verifiable to a specified level of accuracy is accepted. More than one attempt may be made to obtain the required accuracy before re- calibration is performed. Data not so verifiable is rejected and the re-calibration process continued to achieve verifiable data. If no further adjustments or re- calibrations are possible then the audit fails the machine is taken out of audit mode and the central computer is notified.

A generated pixel clock or captured signal which includes verified data is used to drive an analogue to digital converter which takes the RGB composite signal and produces a digital representation which is then stored in the device's RAM.

Verified data may then be communicated by the communication means to the central computer for permanent storage and user access. The central computer may be remote from the device and the communication means may be any known means of communicating data.

Thus, a device of the present invention enables soft meter data to be captured from a video gaming machine, irrespective of the type of machine, by automated means, and verified data to be reconciled with hard meter data and transmitted to a central computer.

The reconciliation process is preferably performed on the central computer, but may be performed in part or in whole in the gaming machine accessory. Once the hard and soft meter data have been independently determined, they provide a check against each other to help ensure correct operation of the gaming machine.

To reconcile the data, the following method may be used:

1 ) Identify the incremental change of each meter;

2) Check the validity of the hard and soft data independently by verifying some or all of the relationships:

Δ[Turnover Meter] - Δ[Total Wins+ Meter] = Δ[Cash In] - Δ[Cash Out] Δ[Cash In] = Δ[Coins In] + Δ[Bank Notes In] Δ[Cash Out] = Δ[Coins Out] + Δ[Cancelled Credits]

3) Verify that the change in the soft meter values is equivalent (taking into account the appropriate ratio of change between the meters if not 1 : 1 ) to the change in the hard meter values.

In an alternative embodiment which may have application in smaller establishments or where the cost of the audit system must be minimised, a single SPU 2 could audit a plurality of gaming machines. An example of such a system is shown in Figure 5. Each gaming machine may have an interface to transfer video data from the gaming machine to a single video processor 7. Each interface may include a processor to control the audit switching and game button manipulation functions. It will be appreciated that cost and complexity of the processor to perform these function may be significantly less than the CPU 2.

The video processor may select which gaming machine to receive a video signal form and capture an appropriate image. This may be achieved using a multiplexer or similar device. Alternatively, the gaming machine interface may control when a video signal is sent to the video processor. CPU 2 then may perform similar functions as described herein.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above described alternative embodiment may sacrifice some performance and reliability to achieve a reduced cost. The communication of video signals over what may be significant distances may create problems with signal quality and hence OCR reliability. Furthermore, the delay in communicating signals may create problems in accuracy, for example when on-the-fly OCR operations are required. It will be appreciated that a failure mechanism may be required to take the machine out of audit mode should the connection between the gaming machine and the video processor 7 fail.

Additionally, the video processor may be required to interface with gaming machines with different video pixel clock rates, requiring either a flexible video processor clock or video capture at very high frequencies.

In a further alternative embodiment, each gaming machine may have its own video processor 7 and the processed signal may then be communicated to a central CPU 2 for further processing. This embodiment also has various disadvantages due to the delay in communication between the video processor 7 and CPU 2 including delays in any on-the-fly OCR.

Where in the foregoing description, reference has been made to specific components or integers of the invention having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A gaming machine soft meter data recording apparatus, including:

a central processing unit,

activation means adapted to switch the gaming machine into audit mode and generate one or more electrical signals representing soft meter data,

2. A gaming machine soft meter data recording apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, including communication means adapted to communicate the stored data to a central control unit.

3. A gaming machine soft meter data recording apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the apparatus further includes recording means for recording hard meter data.

4. A gaming machine soft meter data recording apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the recording means for recording hard meter data is electrically isolated from the rest of the soft meter data recording apparatus.

5. A gaming machine soft meter data recording apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the activation means includes audit mode switching means and soft data display selection means.

6. A gaming machine soft meter data recording apparatus as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the soft data display selection means includes electronic means adapted to simulate the manual operation of one or more game control buttons.

7. A gaming machine soft meter data recording apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including game control button disabling means adapted to prevent manual operation of the gaming machine control buttons.

8. A gaming machine soft meter data recording apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including pre-programmed information adapted to enable the activation means to switch a gaming machine into audit mode and/or select the required soft meter data for any given gaming machine.

9. A gaming machine soft meter data recording apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the apparatus is adapted for use with video games, the electrical signal or signals representing a video signal.

10. A gaming machine soft meter data recording apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including switching means adapted to enable modification of a video image from the video game display output before being displayed on the video game screen.

1 1. A gaming machine soft meter data recording apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including sensing means to sense at least whether the gaming machine is in a predetermined state.

12. A gaming machine including soft meter data recording apparatus as hereinbefore defined.

13. A method of automated collection of data from a gaming machine, said method including the steps of:

switching a gaming machine into audit mode to display soft meter data,

storing the verified digital data.

14. A method of automated data collection from a gaming machine as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the method further includes the step of selecting particular soft meter data.

15. A method of automated data collection from a gaming machine as claimed in either Claim 13 or Claim 14, wherein the method further includes the step of communicating the verified digital data to a central control unit.

16. A method of automated data collection from a gaming machine as claimed in anyone of the Claims 13 to 15 including recording hard meter data from the gaming machine.

17. A method of automated data collection from a gaming machine as claimed in Claim 16 including reconciling the verified digital data with recorded hard meter data.

18. A method of automated data collection from a gaming machine as claimed in Claim 16 wherein the method may further include checking that hard meter data recorded before and after placing the gaming machine in audit mode is consistent.

19. A gaming machine as claimed in anyone of Claims 13 to 18, wherein the electrical signal or signals is or are in the format of a video signal.

20. A method of automated data collection from a gaming machine as claimed in any one of Claims 13 to 19, wherein the capturing of the one or more video signal or parts thereof may include generating one or more pixel clocks under pre-determined conditions.

21. A method of automated data collection from a gaming machine as claimed in Claim 20, wherein the pre-determined conditions may include RGB colour selection, composite or separate synchronisation selection, font selections and/or expected video signal voltage.

22. A method of automated data collection from a gaming machine as claimed in either Claim 20 or Claim 21, wherein the method may further include adjusting the capture pre-determined conditions to optimise the video signal.

23. A method of automated data collection from a gaming machine as claimed in any one of Claims 13 to 22 including ascertaining the state of the gaming machine before switching it into audit mode and postponing or cancelling the data collection if the gaming machine is in one or more predetermined states.

24. A method of automated data collection from a gaming machine as claimed in any one of Claims 13 to 23 including disabling specified game control buttons to prevent manual operation of the gaming machine control buttons.

25. A gaming machine soft meter data collection apparatus substantially as herein described, and with reference to the accompanying figures.