Modular gaming machine and security system

• US 20070155512A1
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wells, William, Wilder, Richard, Mattice, Harold, Lew, Ricky, Gadda, Christian, Griswold, Chauncey
• Granted Patent: US 8,057,302 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/46
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A modularized gaming machine operable to receive wagers on a play of a game of chance is described. The modularized gaming machine may include a base gaming module that can operate independently or can be coupled to additional gaming modules. In one embodiment, the base gaming module may include a security monitoring system operable to determine a security configuration including error conditions that depends on features of gaming modules coupled to the base gaming module. In another embodiment, the security monitoring system may be operable to monitor a fixed security configuration that is independent of the configuration of the modularized gaming machine. The fixed security configuration may anticipate input from security devices that are unconnected in a particular configuration of the modularized gaming machine. In these instances, a signal mechanism may provide information to the security monitoring system to ensure a non-error condition for unconnected security devices.

Claims

1. A gaming machine including a base gaming module for receiving a wager on a game of chance, the gaming machine comprising:

a base gaming module comprising;

a master gaming controller adapted for controlling the game of chance played on the gaming machine and for responding to error conditions;

a video display for presenting the game of chance;

an input device for receiving inputs to play the game of chance;

a mechanical interface for coupling the base gaming module to a surface;

a power interface;

one or more security devices located in the base gaming module;

an interface for receiving information generated from one or more security devices located outside of the base gaming module;

a security system operable to

     1) determine a security configuration of the gaming machine wherein the security configuration includes a list of security device from which to anticipate information,

     2) configure the error conditions of the gaming machine according to the determined security configuration of the gaming machine and

     3) while the gaming machine is available for game play, determine whether error conditions have occurred using the anticipated information from security devices in the determined security configuration.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the input device is a touch screen display.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising at least one audio output device.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising a card reader, wherein the card reader is operable to accept at least one of a smart card, a credit card, a debit card and a player tracking card.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication interface operable to allow communications between the base gaming module and a second gaming module when the second gaming module is coupled to the base gaming module.

6. The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the second gaming module includes at least a first security device and wherein the security system anticipates information from the first security device when the second gaming module is coupled to the base gaming module and wherein the security system does not anticipate information from the first security device when the second gaming module is not coupled to the base gaming module.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising a network interface operable to communicate with a remote gaming device.

8. The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein the base gaming module is operable to communicate with a remote server or another gaming machine via the network interface.

9. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the surface is located on one of a table, a pedestal, a wall, a counter top or a second gaming module.

10. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the interface and the power interface are a single integrated interface.

11. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising an access port wherein a first security device is operable to provide information to the security system indicating a status of the access port.

12. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising a lock wherein a first security device is operable to provide information to the security system indicating a status of the lock.

13. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising 1) an upper casing including the video display, 2) a lower casing including the input device and 3) a mechanism operable to couple the upper casing to the lower casing.

14. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the mechanism is operable to provide one or more degrees of freedom of movement of the upper casing relative to the lower casing.

15. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the mechanism is a hinge mechanism for allowing an angle between the upper casing and the lower casing to be altered.

16. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the second gaming module comprises:

a wager input device;

a communication interface for allowing communications between the base gaming module and the second gaming module wherein the communication interface is compatible with the interface on the base gaming module;

a first mechanical interface for coupling the second gaming module to the base gaming module;

a second mechanical interface for coupling the second gaming module to a first surface;

at least one security device operable to provide information used by the security system in the base gaming module.

17. The gaming machine of claim 16, wherein the security system is operable to reconfigure the security configuration of the gaming machine including the error conditions when the second gaming module is coupled to the base gaming module.

18. The gaming machine of claim 16, wherein the master gaming controller is operable to reconfigure the tilt conditions for the gaming machine when the base gaming module is connected to the second gaming module.

19. The gaming machine of claim 16, wherein the wager input device is at least one of a card reader, a bill acceptor, a ticket reader or a coin acceptor.

20. The gaming machine of claim 19, wherein the card reader is operable to accept at least one of a smart card, a credit card, a debit card and a player tracking card.

21. The gaming machine of claim 16, further comprising a display coupled to the second gaming module.

22. The gaming machine of claim 16, wherein the first surface is a table, a counter top, a pedestal, a wall, a floor or an outer surface of a third gaming module.

23. The gaming machine of claim 16, further comprising a value output device, wherein the value output device is at least one of a token dispenser, a printer, a card dispenser, a card-crediting device or a device operable to alter an electromagnetic state stored on an instrument wherein the electromagnetic state is used to record a value on the instrument.

24. The gaming machine of claim 16, further comprising:

a power supply operable to provide power to the base gaming module via the power interface.

25. The gaming machine of claim 16, further comprising a first security system for monitoring one more security devices located in the second gaming module.

26. The gaming machine of claim 16, wherein the first security system is operable to communicate security information to the security system in the base module when the second gaming module and the base gaming module are coupled.

27. The gaming machine of claim 16, further comprising:

a network interface wherein the master gaming controller is operable to communicate with a remote gaming device via the network interface.

28. The gaming machine of claim 16, further comprising a third gaming module wherein the third gaming module comprises:

the first surface;

a first communication interface for communicatively coupling the second gaming module and the third gaming module;

a third mechanical interface for mechanically coupling the third gaming module to the second gaming module;

a third security device operable to provide information to the security system in the base gaming module.

29. The gaming machine of claim 28, further comprising:

an access port for allowing access to an interior of the third gaming module wherein the third security device is operable to provide information to the security system indicating a status of the access port.

30. The gaming machine of claim 28, further comprising a power supply wherein the third security device is operable to provide information to the security system indicating a status of the power supply.

31. A method in a modularized gaming machine operable to provide wagering on a game of chance, the method comprising:

providing a base gaming module for the modularized gaming machine wherein the base gaming module is operable to provide wagering on the game of chance and wherein the base gaming module includes a security system operable to anticipate information from a variable number of security devices including at least a first security device located in the base gaming module and wherein the base gaming module is operable to be coupled to additional gaming modules;

determining a security configuration of the modularized gaming machine wherein the security configuration includes a list of security devices from which to anticipate information,

configuring error conditions of the gaming machine according to the determined security configuration of the gaming machine and;

while the gaming machine is available for game play, determining whether error conditions have occurred using the anticipated information from security devices in the determined security configuration.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

detecting which gaming modules are coupled to the base gaming module and in response to detecting which gaming modules are coupled to the base gaming module determining the security configuration for the modularized gaming machine.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

determining whether each of the security devices in the determined security configuration is communicatively coupled to the security system.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein a first number of security devices in a first security configuration for the modularized gaming machine comprising only the base gaming module is less than a second number of security devices in a second security configuration for the modularized gaming machine comprising the base gaming module coupled to a second gaming module.

35. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

determining an error condition has occurred and generating a tilt condition in the modularized gaming machine.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

in response to the tilt condition, disabling game play on the modularized gaming machine.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the first security device is operable to monitor a status of an access port.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the first security device is operable to monitor a status of a lock.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein the first security device is operable to monitor a status of a power supply.

40. The method of claim 31, wherein the first security device is operable to monitor a status of a peripheral device coupled to the gaming machine.