MODULAR ENTERTAINMENT AND GAMING SYSTEMS CONFIGURED TO CONSUME AND PROVIDE NETWORK SERVICES

• US 20070293323A1
• Filed: 08/23/2007
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: Cyberview Technology, Inc. (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Brunet De Courssou, Thierry, Beney, Pierre-Jean, GATTO, Jean-Marie
• Granted Patent: US 8,696,465 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3216 Construction aspects of a gaming system, e.g. housing, seats, ergonomic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

A secure and modular architecture for monitoring and controlling clusters of pay entertainment and gaming devices. The architecture allows flexible and secure use of state-of-the-art multimedia and Internet technologies to attract the younger player generation used to flashy and networked games. Cash or cash-less entertainment and gaming devices are supported.

Claims

1. A gaming system, comprising:

a network;

a central server that is not configured for game play, the central server including a first network interface coupled to the network;

a first network service oriented software executing in the central server, including;

a high-level function; and

a first network software interface configured, via the first network interface, to selectively provide the high-level function over the network upon receiving a request over the network to consume the high-level function and to selectively enable execution of the high-level function upon receiving, over the network, a request for execution of the high-level function;

a gaming machine, the gaming machine including gaming software configured for game play and including a second network interface coupled to the network, and

a second network service oriented software executing in the gaming machine, including;

a function call; and

a second network software interface configured, upon execution of the function call and via the second network interface, to selectively enable the function call to consume the high-level function provided by the central server and to request that the central server executes the high-level function.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, further including a remote procedure call issued by the gaming machine that is configured to send the request for execution of the high-level function call to the central server.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the function call must consume the high-level function provided by the central server in order for the gaming machine to continue to provide game play.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the central server is further configured to execute the high-level function upon receiving, over the network, the request for execution of the high-level function from the gaming machine.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein upon successful completion of the execution of the high-level function, the function call is configured to return and to allow the game software to resume execution and game play.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the high-level function includes at least one of a business function, an audit function, an authentication function, a biometric identification function, a graphics rendering computation function, and an outcome determination function.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the central server includes a payment verification unit.

8. The gaming system of claim 7, wherein the payment verification unit is configured so as to operate unattended.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine includes at least one of a cashless gaming terminal, a cash gaming terminal and an entertainment machine.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the first network service oriented software and the second network service oriented software are configured for at least one of asynchronous notification of events, COM+, DCOM, Microsoft Remoting, Corba, SOAP and UDDI.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is further configured to communicate with the central server using at least one of an IP protocol, a secure protocol, a secure IP protocol, an IPSec protocol, a VPN tunneling protocol, a Kerberos protocol and a SSL protocol.

12. A gaming system, comprising:

a network;

a gaming machine coupled to the network, the gaming machine including gaming software configured for game play;

a first network service oriented software executing in the gaming machine, the network service oriented software including;

a high-level function; and

a first network software interface that is configured, during game play and via the first network interface, to selectively provide the high-level function upon receiving a request to consume the high-level function and to selectively enable execution of the high-level function upon receiving a request for execution of the high-level function;

a central server that is not configured for game play, the central server including a second network interface, the second network interface being coupled to the network, and

a second network service oriented software executing in the central server, including;

a function call; and

a second network software interface configured, upon execution of the function call and via the second network interface, to enable the function call to selectively consume the high-level function provided by the gaming machine and to selectively request that the gaming machine executes the high-level function.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, further including a remote procedure call issued by the server that is configured to send the request for execution of the high-level function call to the gaming machine.

14. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the function call must consume the high-level function provided by the gaming machine in order for the gaming machine to continue to provide game play.

15. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the gaming machine is further configured such that it must execute the high-level function upon receiving, over the network, the request for execution of the high-level function from the central server.

16. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the high-level function includes at least one of a business function, an audit function, an authentication function, a biometric identification function, a graphics rendering computation function, and an outcome determination function.

17. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the central server includes a payment verification unit.

18. The gaming system of claim 17, wherein the payment verification unit is configured so as to operate unattended.

19. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the gaming machine includes at least one of a cashless gaming machine, a cash gaming machine and an entertainment machine.

20. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the first network service oriented software and the second network service oriented software are configured for at least one of asynchronous notification of events, COM+, DCOM, Microsoft Remoting, Corba, SOAP and UDDI.

21. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the gaming machine is further configured to communicate with the central server using at least one of an IP protocol, a secure protocol, a secure IP protocol, an IPSec protocol, a VPN tunneling protocol, a Kerberos protocol and a SSL protocol.

22. A gaming system, comprising:

a network;

a plurality of central servers that are not configured for game play, each of the plurality including a first network interface that is coupled to the network;

a first network service oriented software executing in each of the plurality of central servers, the first network service oriented software including;

a high-level function; and

a first network software interface configured, via the first network interface, to selectively provide the high-level function upon receiving a request to consume the high-level function and to selectively enable execution of the high-level function upon receiving a request for execution of the high-level function;

a plurality of gaming machines, each of the plurality including a second network interface coupled to the network and game software configured to enable and control game play, and

a second network service oriented software executing in each of the plurality of gaming machines, including;

a function call; and

a second network software interface configured, upon execution of the function call and via the second network interface, to enable the function call to selectively consume the high-level function provided by at least one of the central servers during game play and to selectively request that at least one of the central servers execute the high-level function during game play.

23. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the function call must consume the high-level function provided by at least one of the central servers in order for the gaming machine to continue to provide game play.

24. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein each of the plurality of central servers is further configured such that it must execute the high-level function upon receiving, over the network, the request for execution of the high-level function from one of the plurality of gaming machines.

25. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein a number of central servers is at least equal to a number of operating ones of the gaming machines.

26. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the plurality of central servers and the plurality of gaming machines are configured to operate in:

(a) a one-to-one manner wherein the high-level function of each of the central servers is provided to or executed for the function call of a single one of the plurality of gaming machines;

(b) a one-to-many manner wherein the high-level function of each of the plurality of centrals servers is provided to or executed for the function call of a plurality of gaming machines;

(c) a many-to-one manner, wherein the high-level function of a plurality of central servers is provided to or executed for the function call of a single one of the plurality of gaming machines.

27. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the game software of each of the plurality of gaming machines is configured to execute the function call during a player wagering session.

28. The gaming system of claim 27, wherein the function call is configured to return and to allow the game software to resume execution and game play upon successful completion of the execution of the high-level function.

29. The gaming system of claim 27, wherein the high-level function includes one of a business function, an audit function, an authentication function, a biometric identification function, a graphics rendering computation function, and an outcome determination function.

30. The gaming system of claim 27, wherein each of the plurality of central servers includes a payment verification unit.

31. The gaming system of claim 30, wherein the payment verification unit is configured so as to operate unattended.

32. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein at least one of the plurality of gaming machines includes at least one of a cashless gaming machine, a cash gaming machine and an entertainment machine.

33. The gaming system of claim 26, wherein the first network service oriented software and the second network service oriented software are configured for at least one of asynchronous notification of events, COM+, DCOM, Microsoft Remoting, Corba, SOAP and UDDI.

34. A gaming system, comprising:

a network;

a plurality of gaming machines, each of the plurality including a first network interface coupled to the network and each including game software for enabling and controlling game play on the gaming machine,

a first network service oriented software executing in each of the gaming machines, including;

a first high-level function; and

a first network software interface configured, via the first network interface and during game play, to selectively provide the first high-level function upon receiving a request to consume the first high-level function and to selectively enable execution of the first high-level function upon receiving a request for execution of the first high-level function;

a plurality of central servers, each not being configured for game play and each including a second network interface coupled to the network; and

a second network service oriented software executing in each of the plurality of central servers, including;

a function call; and

a second network software interface configured, upon execution of the function call and via the second network interface, enable the function call to selectively consume the first high-level function provided by at least one of the gaming machines and to selectively request that at least one of the gaming machines execute the first high-level function.

35. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein the function call must consume the first high-level function provided by at least one of the gaming machines in order for the gaming machine to continue to provide game play.

36. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein each of the plurality of gaming machines is further configured such that it must execute the first high-level function upon receiving, over the network, the request for execution of the first high-level function from one of the plurality of central servers.

37. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein a number of computer servers is at least equal to a number of operating ones of the gaming machines.

38. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein the plurality of central servers and the plurality of gaming machines are configured to operate in:

(a) a one-to-one manner wherein the first high-level function of each of the gaming machines is provided to or executed for the function call of a single one of the plurality of central servers;

(b) a one-to-many manner wherein the first high-level function of each of the plurality of gaming machines is provided to or executed for the function call of a plurality of central servers;

(c) a many-to-one manner, wherein the first high-level function of a plurality of gaming machines is provided to or executed for the function call of a single one of the plurality of central servers.

39. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein the game software of each of the plurality of central server sis configured to execute the function call during a player wagering session at the gaming machine.

40. The gaming system of claim 39, wherein the function call is configured to return and to allow the game software to resume execution and game play upon successful completion of the execution of the first high-level function.

41. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein the first high-level function includes one of a business function, an audit function, an authentication function, a biometric identification function, a graphics rendering computation function, and an outcome determination function.

42. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein each of the plurality of central servers includes a payment verification unit.

43. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein at least one of the plurality of gaming machines further includes:

at least one specialized device coupled to the gaming machine, each specialized device being configured to perform specialized functions that include both software control functions and hardware-based functions, each specialized device including

a third network interface coupled to the network;

a third network service oriented software, including;

a second high-level function, and

a third network software interface configured to, via the third network interface and independently of an operation of the gaming machine to which the specialized device is coupled, to selectively provide the second high-level function upon receiving a request to consume the second high-level function and to selectively enable execution of the second high-level function upon receiving a request for execution of the second high-level function.

44. The gaming system of claim 43, wherein at least one of the plurality of central servers is to configured to, upon execution of the function call and via the second network interface, enable the function call to selectively consume the second high-level function provided by at least one specialized device and to selectively request that at least one of the specialized device execute the second high-level function.

45. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein at least one of the plurality of gaming machines includes at least one of a cashless gaming machine, a cash gaming machine and an entertainment machine.

46. The gaming system of claim 34, wherein the first network service oriented software and the second network service oriented software are configured for at least one of asynchronous notification of events, COM+, DCOM, Microsoft Remoting, Corba, SOAP and UDDI.

47. A gaming system, comprising:

a network;

a gaming machine coupled to the network and including game software to control and enable game play;

a specialized device coupled to the gaming machine, the specialized device being configured to perform specialized functions that include both software control functions and hardware-based functions, the specialized device including;

a first network interface coupled to the network;

a first network service oriented software, including;

a high-level function; and

a first network software interface configured to, via the first network interface and independently of an operation of the gaming machine, to selectively provide the high-level function upon receiving a request to consume the high-level function and to selectively enable execution of the high-level function upon receiving a request for execution of the high-level function;

a central server not configured for game play and including a second network interface coupled to the network, and

a second network service oriented software, including;

a first function call; and

a second network software interface configured, upon execution of the at least one function call and via the second network interface, enable the function call to selectively consume the high-level function provided by the specialized device and to selectively request that the specialized device executes the high-level function.

48. The gaming system of claim 47, wherein the gaming machine further comprises:

a third network interface coupled to the network, and

a third network service oriented software, including;

a second function call; and

a third network software interface configured, upon execution of the second function call and via the third network interface, enable the second function call to selectively consume the high-level function provided by the specialized device and to selectively request that the specialized device executes the high-level function.

49. The gaming system of claim 47, wherein the central server is configured to execute at least one of the first and second functions call during game play.

50. The gaming system of claim 49, wherein the first function call is configured to return and to allow software that calls the first function call to resume execution upon successful completion of the execution of the high-level function.

51. The gaming system of claim 47, wherein the high-level function includes one of a business function, an audit function, an authentication function, a biometric identification function, a graphics rendering computation function, and an outcome determination function.

52. The gaming system of claim 47, wherein the specialized device includes at least one of a player identification device, a device configured to handle payments to and/or from a player and a random number generator.

53. The gaming system of claim 47, wherein the central server includes a payment verification unit.

54. The gaming system of claim 47, wherein the gaming machine includes at least one of a cashless gaming machine, a cash gaming machine and an entertainment machine.

55. The gaming system of claim 47, wherein the first network service oriented software and second network service oriented software include at least one of asynchronous notification of events, COM+, DCOM, Microsoft Remoting, Corba, SOAP and UDDI.

56. A gaming system, comprising:

a network;

a central server, the central server including a first network interface coupled to the network; and

a first network service oriented software, including;

a first high-level function; and

a first network software interface configured, via the first network interface, to selectively provide the first high-level function upon receiving a request to consume the first high-level function and to selectively enable execution of the first high-level function upon receiving a request for execution of the first high-level function;

a gaming machine coupled to the network and including game software to control and enable game play;

a specialized device coupled to the gaming machine, the specialized device being configured to perform specialized functions for the gaming machine that include both software control functions and hardware-based functions, the specialized device including;

a second network interface coupled to the network;

a second network service oriented software, including;

a function call; and

a second network software interface configured, upon execution of the function call and independently of an operation of the gaming machine, enable the function call to selectively consume the first high-level function provided by the central server and to selectively request that the central server executes the first high-level function, via the second network interface.

57. The gaming system of claim 56, wherein the gaming machine further includes:

a third network interface coupled to the network, and

a third network service oriented software, including;

a second high-level function; and

a third network software interface configured, via the third network interface, to selectively provide the second high-level function upon receiving a request to consume the second high-level function and to selectively enable execution of second high-level function upon receiving a request for execution of a remote procedure call.

58. The gaming system of claim 56, wherein the software control functions of the specialized functions execute at least one function call during game play.

59. The gaming system of claim 56, wherein the gaming machine is configured to execute the second high-level function during game play.

60. The gaming system of claim 56, wherein the function call of the specialized device is configured to return and to allow the software control functions of the specialized device to resume execution upon successful completion of the execution of the first high-level function executed by the central server.

61. The gaming system of claim 56, wherein the function call of the specialized device is configured to return and to allow the software control functions of the specialized device to resume execution upon successful completion of the execution of the second high-level function executed by the gaming machine.

62. The gaming system of claim 56, wherein the high-level function includes one of a business function, an audit function, an authentication function, a biometric identification function, a graphics rendering computation function, and an outcome determination function.

63. The gaming system of claim 56, wherein the specialized device includes at least one of a player identification device, a device configured to handle payments to and/or from a player and a random number generator.

64. The gaming system of claim 56, wherein the central server includes a payment verification unit.

65. The gaming system of claim 56, wherein the gaming machine includes at least one of a cashless gaming machine, a cash gaming machine and an entertainment machine.

66. The gaming system of claim 56, wherein the first network service oriented software and second network service oriented software include at least one of asynchronous notification of events, COM+, DCOM, Microsoft Remoting, Corba, SOAP and UDDI.

67. The gaming system of claim 56, wherein the specialized device is fitted to a side or inside the gaming machine.

68. A method of operating a gaming machine coupled to a network, comprising the steps of:

providing a central server, coupling the central server to the network and configuring the central server to selectively provide a high-level function upon receiving, over the network, a request to consume the high-level function and to selectively enable execution of the high-level function upon receiving, over the network, a request for execution thereof;

providing the gaming machine with a specialized device and coupling the specialized device to the gaming machine and to the network, the provided specialized device being configured to perform, independently of an operation of the gaming machine, specialized functions for the gaming machine that include both software control functions and hardware-based functions, and configuring the specialized device to selectively consume the high-level function provided by the central server and to selectively request that the central server executes the high-level function, and

carrying out, by the specialized device, at least the software control functions independently of an operation of the gaming machine by at least one of (a) receiving and consuming the high-level function provided by the central server and (b) requesting that the central server executes the high level function.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the central server configuring step configures the central server such that it is not available for game play by a player.

70. The method of claim 68, wherein the carrying out step is carried out during game play on the gaming machine.

71. The method of claim 68, further comprising a step of configuring the gaming machine to selectively consume the high-level function provided by the central server and to selectively request that the central server executes the high-level function.

72. The method of claim 68, wherein the providing step is carried out such that the specialized device must consume the high-level function provided by the central server in order to operate.

73. The method of claim 68, wherein the central server configuring step is carried out such that the central server must execute the high-level function upon receiving, from the specialized device, the request for execution of the high-level function.

74. The method of claim 68, wherein the gaming machine must consume the high-level function provided by the central server in order to continue to offer game play.

75. The method of claim 68, wherein the central server configuring step is carried out such that the central server must execute the high-level function upon receiving, from the gaming machine, the request for execution of the high-level function.