Interface for voucher and coupon printing

• US 20080038035A1
• Filed: 10/12/2007
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Transat Technologies
• Original Assignee: Transat Technologies
• Inventors: Brooks, Donald, Shuldman, Bart, Quaif, Richard
• Application Number:
  US11/974,460
• Publication Number:
  US 20080038035A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 400/76
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1206 resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1209 resulting in adapted or bridged legacy communication protocols, e.g. emulation, protocol extension
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1222 Increasing security of the print job
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1236 Connection management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1244 Job translation or job parsing, e.g. page banding
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 Local printer device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1285 Remote printer device, e.g. being remote from client or server
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• 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 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• 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

An interface is disclosed for driving a printer to print highly secure vouchers and less secure coupons. The printer can reside, for example, in a wagering terminal (e.g., slot machine), ticket machine, point-of-sale terminal or the like. A first driver receives, e.g., from a local controller, data indicative of voucher information to be printed. A second driver receives, e.g., from a central system controller, data indicative of coupon information to be printed. A processor responsive to the first and second drivers generates printer commands in a standard printer format so that the same printer can be used to print vouchers and coupons. Coupons do not have to be processed by the secure (and usually proprietary) hardware and/or software provided by the terminal manufacturer for printing vouchers.

Claims

1. A method for driving a printer from a local controller and a central system controller, comprising the steps of:

monitoring communications from said local controller and central system controller;

determining printer availability when a printer communication is received from one of said controllers, and;

(i) if the printer is available, decoding printer data in one format and converting the decoded data to a standard printer format for communication to the printer;

(ii) if the printer is not available, notifying the controller from which the printer communication was received that the printer is busy; and

continuing to monitor said communications.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein if printer communications are simultaneously received from both controllers, preference is given to said local game controller.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein if printer communications are simultaneously received from both controllers, preference is given to said central system controller.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said printer is a gaming machine printer.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said printer is a point of sale terminal printer.