NETWORK GAMING MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR HISTORY

• US 20100203961A1
• Filed: 02/06/2010
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WMS Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Burke, Mary M., Sylla, Craig J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,117,339 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 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed

Abstract

Some embodiments include a computer-implemented method for tracking, over an electronic wagering game network, services performed on a wagering game machine. The method comprises: receiving, in the wagering game machine, a wagering game machine access identifier, wherein the wagering game machine access identifier indicates identity of a technician accessing a wagering game machine; detecting a service event in the wagering game machine; and generating a report indicating a modification to the wagering game machine. The method can also comprise receiving a technician log describing the modification to the wagering game machine; transmitting, to a service controller, the report, the log, and the wagering game machine access identifier. The method can also comprise receiving, from the service controller, maintenance information associated with the wagering game machine; and presenting the maintenance information on a display associated with the wagering game machine.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for tracking, over an electronic wagering game network, services performed on a wagering game machine, the method comprising:

receiving, in the wagering game machine, a wagering game machine access identifier, wherein the wagering game machine access identifier indicates identity of a technician accessing a wagering game machine;

detecting a service event in the wagering game machine;

generating a report indicating a modification to the wagering game machine;

receiving a technician log describing the modification to the wagering game machine;

transmitting, to a service controller, the report, the log, and the wagering game machine access identifier;

receiving, from the service controller, maintenance information associated with the wagering game machine; and

presenting the maintenance information on a display associated with the wagering game machine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wagering game machine access identifier is received from one or more of a biometric device, a swipe card, a keypad, and a voice device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the technician log comprises one or more of information describing a problem encountered by the wagering game machine, steps for troubleshooting the problem, and components replaced in the wagering game machine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating the report indicating the modification to the wagering game machine comprises generating an exhaustive report indicating a current state of every component of the wagering game machine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the maintenance information comprises one or more of a troubleshooting manual, a section of the troubleshooting manual relevant to an identified error in the wagering game machine, and a history of maintenance operations performed on the wagering game machine.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the service event comprises one or more of physical events, maintenance events, player generated events, power management events, and data communication events.

7. A computer-implemented method for assisting a service technician by electronically delivering maintenance information to wagering game machines on a casino floor, the method comprising:

detecting, in a maintenance controller, a request for maintenance information about a first event occurring on a first wagering game machine, wherein the first wagering game machine is one of a plurality of wagering game machines;

determining, based on wagering game machine information associated with the plurality of wagering game machines, that a second wagering game machine of the plurality of wagering game machines experienced a second event similar to the first event;

generating a report based on the analysis of the wagering game machine information, wherein the report indicates maintenance actions taken in response to the second event; and

transmitting the report for presentation on the first wagering game machine.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the wagering game machine information comprises one or more of events detected by the plurality of wagering game machines, a history of maintenance actions performed on the plurality of wagering game machines, a technician log describing the maintenance operations, and an error log associated with the plurality of wagering game machines.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the report further includes troubleshooting measures performed on the second wagering game machine.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the report indicates one or more service technicians who performed the maintenance actions.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining, based on the wagering game machine information associated with the plurality of wagering game machines, that the second wagering game machine did not experience additional events similar to the first event after the maintenance actions.

12. One or more machine readable media that when executed by a wagering game machine cause the wagering game machine to perform operations comprising:

reporting a first group of component parameters to a service controller, wherein the first group of component parameters correspond to components residing in the wagering game machine;

detecting, in a wagering game machine, a first identifier indicating that a first service technician is accessing components inside the wagering game machine;

reporting the first identifier to a service controller,

reporting a second group of component parameters to the service controller, wherein the second group of component parameters correspond to components residing in the wagering game machine after receipt of the first identifier;

detecting, in the wagering game machine, a second identifier indicating that a second service technician is assessing components residing in the wagering game machine after receipt of the first identifier;

reporting the second identifier to the service controller;

receiving, from the service controller, a report indicating service activities of the first service technician; and

presenting the report on a display.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the service activities indicate that the first service technician replaced one of the components of the wagering game machine.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the first group of component parameters include serial numbers associated with the components of the wagering game machine, and wherein the second group of component parameters include serial numbers that correspond to components residing in the wagering game machine after receipt of the first identifier.

15. An wagering game system comprising:

a service unit configured to,

receive a wagering game machine access identifier, wherein the wagering game machine access identifier indicates identity of a technician accessing a wagering game machine;

detect a service event in the wagering game machine;

generate a report indicating a modification to the wagering game machine; and

receive a technician log describing the modification to the wagering game machine;

a communication unit configured to

transmit, to the service controller, the report, the log, and the wagering game machine access identifier;

receive, from the service controller, maintenance information associated with the wagering game machine; and

present the maintenance information on a display associated with the wagering game machine.

16. The wagering game system of claim 15, wherein the service unit is configured to receive the wagering game machine access identifier from one or more of a biometric device, a swipe card, a keypad, and a voice device.

17. The wagering game system of claim 15, wherein the service unit is further configured to generate an exhaustive report indicating a current state of every component of the wagering game machine.

18. The wagering game system of claim 15, wherein the technician log comprises one or more of information describing a problem encountered by the wagering game machine, steps for troubleshooting the problem, and components replaced in the wagering game machine.

19. The wagering game system of claim 15, wherein the maintenance information comprises one or more of a troubleshooting manual, a section of the troubleshooting manual relevant to an identified error in the wagering game machine, and a history of maintenance operations performed on the wagering game machine.

20. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving, in a wagering game machine, a wagering game machine access identifier, wherein the wagering game machine access identifier indicates identity of a technician accessing a wagering game machine;

means for detecting a service event in the wagering game machine;

means for generating a report indicating a modification to the wagering game machine;

means for receiving a technician log describing the modification to the wagering game machine;

means for transmitting, to a service controller, the report, the log, and the wagering game machine access identifier;

means for receive, from the service controller, maintenance information associated with the wagering game machine; and

means for presenting the maintenance information on a display associated with the wagering game machine.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the wagering game machine access identifier is received from one or more of a biometric device, a swipe card, a keypad, and a voice device.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the technician log comprises one or more of information describing a problem encountered by the wagering game machine, steps for troubleshooting the problem, and components replaced in the wagering game machine.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the means for generating the report indicating the modification to the wagering game machine comprises a means for generating an exhaustive report indicating a current state of every component of the wagering game machine.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the maintenance information comprises one or more of a troubleshooting manual, a section of the troubleshooting manual relevant to an identified error in the wagering game machine, and a history of maintenance operations performed on the wagering game machine.