Redundant gaming network mediation
First Claim
1. An apparatus that provides redundant gaming communication between gaming machines, gaming devices and host servers on a gaming communication network, the apparatus comprising:
- a first, primary transmission path between the gaming machines on the gaming communication network and a host server;
at least a second, redundant transmission path between the gaming machines on the gaming communication network and the host server;
and a logic device designed or configured to i) monitor communications on the first transmission path and the second transition path, ii) to collect data from at least one of the gaming machine and the gaming devices, iii) to execute gaming software.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A disclosed gaming communication network provides an enhanced DCU that provides redundant mediation between gaming machines on the gaming communication network and a host server. The enhanced DCU provides a first, primary transmission path and a second, redundant transmission path between the gaming machines and the host server. In the event one transmission path is disrupted, the other provides continuing transmissions between the gaming communication network and the host server. In the event both transmission paths are disrupted, the enhanced DCU functions as a local interim server and stores data received from the gaming machines on the gaming communication network until such time as the data can be transmitted to the host server. In some embodiments, the enhanced DCU acts as a local interim server to the gaming machines using data mirrored from the host server prior to transmission disruption. In some embodiments, the enhanced DCU functions as a download server and stores data received from the host server and asynchronously transmits the data to the gaming machines, so as to mitigate disruption of game play. In some embodiments, the enhanced DCU may also function as a local cache of information that is repeatedly accessed by the gaming machines on the gaming communication network so as to reduce the transmission load on the first and/or second transmission path. In some embodiments, the enhanced DCU provides different network input connection ports to enable utilization of the enhanced DCU with different network formats, such as fiber optic cable, twisted pair cable, or wireless transmission media.
-
Citations
72 Claims
-
1. An apparatus that provides redundant gaming communication between gaming machines, gaming devices and host servers on a gaming communication network, the apparatus comprising:
-
a first, primary transmission path between the gaming machines on the gaming communication network and a host server;
at least a second, redundant transmission path between the gaming machines on the gaming communication network and the host server;
and a logic device designed or configured to i) monitor communications on the first transmission path and the second transition path, ii) to collect data from at least one of the gaming machine and the gaming devices, iii) to execute gaming software. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A gaming communication network, the gaming communication network comprising:
-
one or more enhanced data collection units (DCUs) for providing redundant gaming communication paths and network mediation for communications between gaming machines, gaming devices and one or more host servers over the gaming communication network and for collecting data from at least one of the gaming machines and the gaming devices wherein the gaming machines, the gaming devices and the host servers are in communication with an enhanced DCU; and
a gaming transmission path network, the gaming transmission path network allowing communication between the host server and the plurality of gaming machines and the gaming devices via the enhanced DCU. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
-
-
48. In an enhanced DCU, a method of providing network mediation on a gaming communication network with a plurality of gaming machines, a plurality of gaming devices, one or more host servers, and a plurality of transmission paths between the gaming machines and the one or more host servers, the method comprising:
-
monitoring communications between a plurality of gaming machines, a plurality of gaming devices and one or more host servers;
collecting data from at least one of the gaming machines, the gaming devices and combinations thereof;
detecting a first primary transmission path between the gaming machines and the one or more host servers has been lost or has become busy; and
switching communications to a second transmission path. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 72)
-
-
68. decrypting a communication between the gaming machine, the gaming devices and the one or more host servers.
Specification