Accounting system for arcade games

• US 20020115490A1
• Filed: 11/14/2001
• Published: 08/22/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bob's Space Racers Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bob's Space Racers Incorporated
• Inventors: Lane, Michael S., Howell, Walter A., Burnet, Fredrick, Wise, David A.
• Application Number:
  US09/992,280
• Publication Number:
  US 20020115490A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/49
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system

Abstract

A system and method for sending and receiving game accounting data from an arcade game processing system to a mobile data collection unit. The data may be transmitted using various protocols such as infrared, radio or serial data transmission. The present invention also has a new electromechanical method of collecting information on prize dissemination. By using a user-actuated method of input, e.g., buttons or switches, the game operator may efficiently and accurately track and store prize dissemination information.

Claims

1. An apparatus for storing and collecting arcade game data comprising:

a game processing system;

a data output system in electrical communication with said game processing system; and

a data collection unit in wireless communication with said data output system.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said data collection unit communicates game accounting data to and from said data output system.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said game processing system comprises:

a main controller; and

a plurality of unit controllers.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said game processing system further comprises a clock.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said data output system comprises:

a processor;

a plurality of I/O ports;

memory; and

a communications port.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said communications port uses infrared, radio, or serial data transmissions.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said communications port uses standard Infrared Data Association (IrDA) compliant communications.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said data collection unit communicates game accounting data to and from said data output system through said communications port.

9. An apparatus for storing and collecting arcade game data comprising:

a game processing system;

an output processing system in electrical communication with said game processing system;

a data output system in electrical communication with said output processing system; and

a data collection unit in wireless communication with said data output system.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said data collection unit communicates game accounting data to and from said data output system.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said game processing system comprises:

a main controller; and

a plurality of unit controllers.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said game processing system further comprises a clock.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said output processing system is implemented via a micro controller or via a personal computer.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said data output system comprises:

a processor;

a plurality of I/O ports;

memory; and

a communications port.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said communications port uses infrared, radio, or serial data transmissions.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said communications port uses standard Infrared Data Association (IrDA) compliant communications.

17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said data collection unit communicates game accounting data to and from said data output system through said communications port.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising actuating a device to indicate the award of a corresponding prize from said arcade game.

18. A method for operating an accounting system for arcade game data comprising the steps of:

operating an arcade game having a game processing system;

storing game accounting data at said game processing system;

establishing wireless communications between said arcade game and a data collection unit;

collecting said game accounting data onto said data collection unit;

storing said game accounting data on said data collection unit;

processing said game accounting data on said data collection unit; and

allowing uninterrupted performance of game play from said arcade game during said collection of game accounting data.