Method and apparatus for voucher and coupon printing in a gaming or vending environment

• US 20060039733A1
• Filed: 06/03/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Futurelogic Incorporated (Japan Cash Machine Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Futurelogic Incorporated (Japan Cash Machine Company Limited)
• Inventors: Meyerhofer, Mark
• Application Number:
  US11/144,127
• Publication Number:
  US 20060039733A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1208 resulting in improved quality of the output result, e.g. print layout, colours, workflows, print preview
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/121 Facilitating exception or error detection and recovery, e.g. fault, media or consumables depleted
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1234 Errors handling and recovery, e.g. reprinting G06F3/1261 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1273 Print job history, e.g. logging, accounting, tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0207 Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0208 Trade or exchange of goods or services in exchange for incentives or rewards
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0222 During e-commerce, i.e. online transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0235 constrained by time limit or expiration date
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for a promotional printer for printing vouchers and coupons for use within gaming machines or vending machines. The promotional printer incorporates a first and second means for receiving voucher and coupon data, respectively. The promotional printer may be coupled to a local controller, such as a game controller or a vending machine controller, for the reception of voucher data for printing on vouchers. The promotional printer may also be coupled to a system controller such as a master promotional controller for the reception of coupon data for printing on coupons. The promotional printer may be a single device or may be created by combining a module receiving the coupon and voucher data with a conventional gaming machine or voucher printer.

Claims

1. An interface for controlling a printer, comprising:

a first driver for receiving, from a local controller, data indicative of information to be printed;

a second driver for receiving, from a central system controller, data indicative of information to be printed; and

a processor responsive to said first and second drivers for generating printer commands in a standard format for said printer.

2. An interface in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first driver receives data in a first format, and said second driver receives data in a second format.

3. An interface in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said first driver receives data in one of a trigger or template format; and

said second driver receives data in another one of said trigger or template formats.

4. An interface in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

said first driver and said processor together decode data from said local controller and convert the decoded local controller data to said standard format; and

said second driver and said processor together decode data from said central system controller and convert the decoded central system controller data to said standard format.

5. An interface in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first driver processes cash data from the local controller for use in printing a voucher.

6. An interface in accordance with claim 5, wherein said second driver processes non-cash data from the central system controller for use in printing a coupon.

7. An interface in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second driver processes non-cash data from the central system controller for use in printing a coupon.

8. An interface in accordance with claim 1, wherein said interface is built into the printer.

9. An interface in accordance with claim 1, wherein said interface is external to the printer.

10. An interface in accordance with claim 1, wherein said printer is a gaming machine printer.

11. An interface in accordance with claim 1, wherein said printer is a vending machine printer.

12. An interface for controlling a printer, comprising:

first means for receiving, from a local controller, data indicative of information to be printed;

second means for receiving, from a central system controller, data indicative of information to be printed; and

third means responsive to said first and second means for generating printer commands in a standard format for said printer.

13. An interface in accordance with claim 12, wherein said first means receives data in a first format, and said second means receives data in a second format.

14. An interface in accordance with claim 13, wherein:

said first means receives data in one of a trigger or template format; and

said second means receives data in another one of said trigger or template formats.

15. An interface in accordance with claim 12, wherein:

said first means and said third means together decode data from said local controller and convert the decoded local controller data to said standard format; and

said second means and said third means together decode data from said central system controller and convert the decoded central system controller data to said standard format.

16. An interface in accordance with claim 12, wherein said first means processes cash data from the local controller for use in printing a voucher.

17. An interface in accordance with claim 16, wherein said second means processes non-cash data from the central system controller for use in printing a coupon.

18. An interface in accordance with claim 12, wherein said second means processes non-cash data from the central system controller for use in printing a coupon.

19. An interface in accordance with claim 12, wherein said interface is built into the printer.

20. An interface in accordance with claim 12, wherein said interface is external to the printer.

21. An interface in accordance with claim 12, wherein said printer is a gaming machine printer.

22. An interface in accordance with claim 12, wherein said printer is a vending machine printer.

23. An interface for controlling a printer, comprising:

a first driver for receiving, from a local controller, cash data indicative of information to be printed on a voucher;

a second driver for receiving, from a central system controller, non-cash data indicative of information to be printed on a coupon; and

a processor responsive to said first and second drivers for generating printer commands in a standard format for said printer.

24. An interface in accordance with claim 23, wherein said first driver receives data in a first format, and said second driver receives data in a second format.

25. An interface in accordance with claim 24, wherein:

said first driver receives data in one of a trigger or template format; and

said second driver receives data in another one of said trigger or template formats.

26. An interface in accordance with claim 23, wherein:

said first driver and said processor together decode data from said local controller and convert the decoded local controller data to said standard format; and

said second driver and said processor together decode data from said central system controller and convert the decoded central system controller data to said standard format.

27. An interface in accordance with claim 23, wherein said interface is built into the printer.

28. An interface in accordance with claim 23, wherein said interface is external to the printer.

29. An interface in accordance with claim 23, wherein said printer is a gaming machine printer.

30. An interface in accordance with claim 23, wherein said printer is a vending machine printer.

31. An interface for controlling a printer, comprising:

first means for receiving, from a local controller, cash data indicative of information to be printed on a voucher;

second means for receiving, from a central system controller, non-cash data indicative of information to be printed on a coupon; and

third means, responsive to said first and second means, for generating printer commands in a standard format for said printer.

32. An interface in accordance with claim 31, wherein said first means receives data in a first format, and said second means receives data in a second format.

33. An interface in accordance with claim 32, wherein:

said first means receives data in one of a trigger or template format; and

said second means receives data in another one of said trigger or template formats.

34. An interface in accordance with claim 31, wherein:

said first means and said third means together decode data from said local controller and convert the decoded local controller data to said standard format; and

said second means and said third means together decode data from said central system controller and convert the decoded central system controller data to said standard format.

35. An interface in accordance with claim 31, wherein said interface is built into the printer.

36. An interface in accordance with claim 31, wherein said interface is external to the printer.

37. An interface in accordance with claim 31, wherein said printer is a gaming machine printer.

38. An interface in accordance with claim 31, wherein said printer is a vending machine printer.