Gaming System and a Method of Monitoring a Gaming Device

• US 20090275405A1
• Filed: 05/04/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Inventors: McKay, Linn Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 10,297,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system

Abstract

A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a game controller arranged to implement a game, at least one game meter arranged to obtain game related information, and an interface device arranged to facilitate transfer of at least some of the obtained game related information to a portable data storage device in response to a transfer instruction. A corresponding method of monitoring a gaming device is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A gaming system comprising:

a game controller arranged to implement a game;

at least one game meter arranged to obtain game related information; and

an interface device arranged to facilitate transfer of at least some of the obtained game related information to a portable data storage device in response to a transfer instruction.

2. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a data storage device arranged to store at least some of the game related information obtained by the at least one game meter.

3. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface device comprises a USB interface arranged to mechanically and electrically connect with a portable USB data storage device.

4. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the interface device comprises a wireless communication interface arranged to communicate wirelessly with a portable data storage device.

5. A gaming system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the wireless communication interface comprises a Bluetooth or WiFi communication interface.

6. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, comprising an authorization device arranged to permit access to the obtained game related information by a person only when the identity of the person has been verified.

7. A gaming system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the authorization device is arranged to receive an authorization code from a person, to compare the authorization code with a reference authorization code, and to permit access to the obtained game related information if the received authorization code and the reference authorization code match.

8. A gaming system as claimed in claim 7, comprising an identification device reader, the identification device reader being arranged to extract an authorisation code from an identification device when the identification device is engaged with the identification device reader.

9. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gaming system is arranged to transfer at least some of the obtained game related information to a portable data storage device in response to a transfer instruction received from a person.

10. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gaming system is arranged to transfer at least some of the obtained game related information to a portable data storage device in response to a transfer instruction generated automatically when a connection is established between the interface device and the portable data storage device.

11. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the game related information comprises information indicative of the number of credits received and dispensed by the gaming system, the number of games played and/or the number of wins.

12. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the game related information comprises security information indicative of whether a door of the gaming system has been opened and/or whether a tilt has occurred during game play.

13. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the game related information comprises screen shot data indicative of at least some of the screens displayed to a player during game play.

14. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of gaming devices, each gaming device comprising:

at least one game meter arranged to obtain game related information; and

an interface device arranged to facilitate transfer of at least some of the obtained game related information to a portable data storage device in response to a transfer instruction.

15. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the gaming system comprises a gaming machine.

16. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a gaming terminal and a gaming server in networked communication with the gaming terminal.

17. A method of monitoring a gaming device, the method comprising:

obtaining game related information from at least one game meter; and

transferring at least some of the obtained game related information to a portable data storage device in response to a transfer instruction.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, comprising storing at least some of the game related information obtained by the at least one game meter in a data storage device.

19. A method as claimed in claim 17, comprising providing a USB interface arranged to mechanically and electrically connect with a portable USB data storage device.

20. A method as claimed in claim 17, comprising transferring at least some of the obtained game related information to a portable data storage device using wireless communications.

21. A method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the wireless communications comprise Bluetooth or WiFi communications.

22. A method as claimed in claim 17, comprising permitting access to the obtained game related information by a person only when the identity of the person has been verified.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, comprising receiving an authorization code from a person, comparing the authorization code with a reference authorization code, and permitting access to the obtained game related information if the received authorization code and the reference authorization code match.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, comprising providing an identification device reader, storing a reference authorisation code on an identification device, and extracting the authorisation code from the identification device when the identification device is engaged with the identification device reader.

25. A method as claimed in claim 17, comprising transferring at least some of the obtained game related information to a portable data storage device in response to a transfer instruction received from a person.

26. A method as claimed in claim 17, comprising generating a transfer instruction automatically when a connection is established between the interface device and the portable data storage device, and transferring at least some of the obtained game related information to a portable data storage device in response to the transfer instruction.

27. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the game related information comprises information indicative of the number of credits received and dispensed by the method, the number of games played and/or the number of wins.

28. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the game related information comprises security information indicative of whether a door of the method has been opened and/or whether a tilt has occurred during game play.

29. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the game related information comprises screen shot data indicative of at least some of the screens displayed to a player during game play.