Method and apparatus for managing gaming machine code downloads

• US 20040048667A1
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Rowe, Rick
• Granted Patent: US 7,131,909 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

A gaming machine is arranged with a gaming machine controller and a secondary “queuing” device, preferably a player tracking controller having a memory. A communication link is provided between the player tracking controller and gaming machine controller, and the player tracking controller and a player tracking network including a player tracking host or server. A game code server is connected to the player tracking network. In accordance with a method, gaming machine code or data, such as game or other control code, is transmitted from the game code server over the player tracking network to the player tracking controller. The code may be processed by the player tracking controller, including by storing it in the player tracking controller memory. The code may then be transmitted to the gaming machine controller for storage and execution.

Claims

1. A system for providing a gaming machine with operational code from at least one remote location comprising:

at least one gaming machine, said gaming machine including at least one gaming machine controller adapted to control the gaming machine and present at least one game at said gaming machine to a player, said at least one gaming machine including a player tracking device including a processor and a memory and a first communication link permitting transmission of information between said at least one gaming machine controller and player tracking device;

a player tracking host arranged to store data regarding activities of one or more players of said gaming machine;

a communications interface associated with said player tracking device and permitting said player tracking device to receive information from a remote location and transmit information to a remote location;

a second communication link between said communication interface of said player tracking device and said player tracking host over which information may be transmitted; and

a game code host, said game host including a storage device storing game code, said game code host having a communication interface associated with at least a portion of said second communication link permitting the transmission of game code from said game code host to said player tracking device, whereby said player tracking device may provide said code in processed or unprocessed form to said at least one gaming machine controller.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said second communication link is a wireless communication link.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said player tracking device includes a card reader.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second communication link is part of a communication network with which said at least one gaming machine and player tracking host are associated.

5. The system in accordance with claim 4 wherein said game code host is associated with said network.

6. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said player tracking host and said game code host comprise a common device.

7. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said player tracking device comprises a self-contained element connected to said gaming machine.

8. A method of downloading code to a gaming machine from a remote device, said gaming machine including a gaming controller and a player tracking controller comprising:

storing gaming machine code at said remote device;

generating a request for gaming machine code;

providing said request to said remote device;

transmitting gaming machine code from said remote device to said player tracking controller over a communication link in response to said request;

processing said gaming code with said player tracking controller; and

transmitting all or a portion of said processed gaming code to said gaming machine controller.

9. The method in accordance with claim 8 comprising generating said request for gaming machine code at said gaming machine and including the step of transmitting said request from said gaming machine to said remote device.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9 comprising generating said request at said player tracking controller of said gaming machine.

11. The method in accordance with claim 9 comprising generating said request in response to a player providing player identification information to said player tracking controller.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said providing step comprises accepting a player tracking card at a card reader associated with said player tracking controller.

13. The method in accordance with claim 8 comprising transmitting said gaming machine code over at least a portion of a network with which said gaming machine and a player tracking host are associated.

14. The method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said processing step comprises storing all or a portion of said code at a memory of said player tracking device.

15. The method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said processing step comprises assembling portions of code received at different times by said player tracking device.

16. The method in accordance with claim 8 including the step of executing said gaming code with a processor of said gaming machine controller.

17. The method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said request includes priority information regarding a time for providing said code.

18. The method in accordance with claim 8 wherein said remote device comprises a game code server.

19. The method in accordance with claim 8 including the step of storing said gaming code at a memory of said player tracking device and transmitting said stored gaming code to said gaming machine controller.

20. A system for providing a gaming machine with operational code from at least one remote location comprising:

at least one gaming machine, said gaming machine including at least one gaming machine controller adapted to control the gaming machine and present at least one game at said gaming machine to a player, said at least one gaming machine including a player tracking device including a processor and a memory and a first communication link permitting transmission of information between said at least one gaming machine controller and player tracking device;

a player tracking host arranged to store data regarding activities of one or more players of said gaming machine;

a second communication link between said player tracking device and said player tracking host over which information may be transmitted;

a game code host, said game host including a storage device storing game code; and

a third communication link between said player tracking device and said game code host over which game code may be transmitted from said game code host to said player tracking device, whereby said player tracking device may provide said code in processed or unprocessed form to said at least one gaming machine controller.

21. The system in accordance with claim 20 wherein said third communication link includes at least one wireless communication link.

22. The system in accordance with claim 20 wherein at least a portion of said third communication link is a portion of said second communication link.