GAMING DEVICE WITH WRITE ONLY MASS STORAGE

• US 20080020849A1
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Schlottmann, Greg
• Application Number:
  US11/830,827
• Publication Number:
  US 20080020849A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

A method and apparatus for collecting data in read-only manner from a gaming system is disclosed. In one embodiment, during gaming machine use, operation data regarding any aspect of a gaming machine is provided to a record-only data collection device configured to temporarily interface with a gaming machine that has or is suspected of a malfunction. Media may be associated with the data collection device. Upon malfunction of the gaming machine, the media or the data collection device and the operation data stored thereon may be retrieved from the gaming machine. The operation data may then be provided to any location or device and analyzed to determine the malfunction'"'"'s cause. In various other configurations, the data collection device may be remote from the gaming system and collect data over a radio or network link. The operation data may comprise information collected for purposes other than gaming machine malfunction monitoring.

Claims

1. A gaming machine apparatus to record data regarding a malfunction, comprising:

means for connecting a record-only data recording module to a gaming machine, the read-only module recording data during play of the gaming machine including a malfunction of said machine;

means for connecting a media to the record-only data regarding module, the record-only data recording module unable to transmit data to the gaming machine;

means for executing game play; and

means for recording data regarding play on the media.

2. A method for recording data regarding a gaming machine malfunction, comprising:

connecting a record-only data recording module to a gaming machine, the read-only module recording data during play of the gaming machine including a malfunction of said machine;

connecting a media to the record-only data regarding module, the record-only data recording module unable to transmit data to the gaming machine;

executing game play; and

recording data regarding play on the media.

3. A gaming system for obtaining data concerning gaming system operation while preventing unauthorized writing of data to the gaming system, comprising:

means for establishing a communication link between a record-only data recording system and the gaming system;

means for initiating operation of the gaming system;

means for capturing data regarding gaming system operation; and

means for storing the data on a media, the media interfacing with the record-only data recording system over the communication link, the record-only data recording system able to receive data only from the gaming system and unable to transmit data to the gaming system.