DEVICE HEALTH MONITORING FOR GAMING MACHINES

• US 20110195788A1
• Filed: 11/10/2010
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: LEAP Forward Gaming
• Inventors: Wells, William R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,336,697 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 11/00 Game accessories of general use , e.g. score counters, boxes
• 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 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/009 User recognition or proximity detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A gaming peripheral for a gaming machine is described. The gaming peripheral can be configured to emulate the functions of a lighting device, such as a candle. The gaming peripheral can be configured to provide enhanced gaming features such as 1) enhanced networking capabilities, 2) enhanced peripheral device monitoring and upgrade capabilities, 3) enhanced player monitoring and security capabilities 4) enhanced gaming function capabilities and 5) enhanced player reward capabilities. The enhanced gaming features can be provided in a non-intrusive manner such that regulated software executed on a gaming machine does not have to be altered.

Claims

1. A method in a gaming device comprising:

receiving sensor information on at least a transaction by transaction basis from a value input device or a value output device including one or more sensors wherein the value input device or the value output device is communicatively coupled to a game controller on a gaming machine;

based upon the sensor information from a plurality of transactions, identifying an error pattern indicating the value input device or the value output device is operating sub-optimally; and

determining whether at least one correction related to the error pattern is available;

when at least one correction is available, generating and sending a correction message to the value input device or the value output device, said correction message including commands, data or combinations thereof for implementing the correction on the value input device or the value output device;

otherwise,

generating and sending a maintenance message requesting maintenance operation to be performed on the value input device or the value output device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming device is a remote server separate from the gaming machine.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the correction message is sent from the remote server to a candle device mounted to the gaming machine wherein the candle device is configured to communicate with the game controller via a first communication pathway and the value input device or the value input device via a second communication pathway.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the candle device is configured to receive the sensor information from the value input device or the value output device and send the received sensor information to the remote server via a wireless communication interface.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming device is a candle device mounted to the gaming machine wherein the candle device is configured to communicate with the game controller via a first communication pathway and the value input device or the value output device via a second communication pathway.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming device is configured to receive information from all of the value input devices and all of the value output devices and based on the information, to determine a value amount added to the gaming machine and a value amount removed from the gaming machine as a function of time.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving sensor information from the value input device or the value output device between transactions wherein the sensor information received between transactions is used to identify the error pattern.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor information is used to assess a performance of a motor in the value input device or the value output device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor or a voltage sensor.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors is a camera.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the value input device is one of a bill acceptor, a card reader or a wireless interface.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the value output device is one of a printer, a coin hopper or a wireless interface.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming device is configured to receive the sensor information via a communication link established between a controller on the gaming device and a controller on the value input device and the value output device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when a plurality of corrections are available, determining an order in which to implement each of the plurality of corrections.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

implementing a first correction to correct the error pattern, determining the first correction did not improve an operational performance of the value input device or the value output device and implementing a second correction to correct the error pattern.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the correction to the error pattern includes a download of new software to the value input device or the value output device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the download of new software is configured to adjust an acceptable range of values associated with a sensor to improve an operational performance of the value input device or the value output device.

18. A method in a gaming device comprising:

receiving sensor information on at least a transaction by transaction basis from a bill acceptor including one or more sensors wherein the bill acceptor is communicatively coupled to game controller on a gaming machine;

based upon the sensor information from a plurality of transactions, identifying an error pattern indicating the bill acceptor is operating sub-optimally; and

determining whether at least one correction to the error pattern is available;

when at least one correction is available, generating and sending a correction message to the bill acceptor, said correction message including commands, data or combinations thereof for implementing the correction on the bill acceptor;

otherwise,

generating and sending a maintenance message requesting maintenance operation to be performed on the bill acceptor.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the gaming device is a remote server separate from the gaming machine.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the gaming device is mounted to the gaming machine and wherein the gaming device is configured to communicate with the game controller via a first communication pathway and to communicate with a controller on the bill acceptor via a second communication pathway and wherein the bill acceptor is communicatively coupled to the game controller via a third communication pathway.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the error pattern is based upon a determination of a number of instruments accepted and a number of instruments rejected over a time period.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the instruments are one of a bill or a printed ticket.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising determining that an instrument accepted by the bill acceptor is fraudulent and downloading new software or firmware to the bill acceptor that allows the bill acceptor to detect other fraudulent instrument with characteristics similar to the fraudulent instrument.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the gaming device includes a camera configured to capture images of a user at the gaming machine further comprising capturing an image of a user who has provided the determined fraudulent instrument to the bill acceptor.

25. The method of claim 18, wherein the one or more sensors is a camera and wherein the gaming device is configured to receive image data from instruments inserted in the bill acceptor.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the instrument is a printed ticket further comprising accessing a print quality of the printed ticket.

27. A method in a gaming device comprising:

receiving sensor information on at least a transaction by transaction basis from a printer including one or more sensors wherein the printer is communicatively coupled to a game controller on a gaming machine;

based upon the sensor information from a plurality of transactions, identifying an error pattern indicating the printer is operating sub-optimally; and

determining whether at least one correction to the error pattern is available;

when at least one correction is available, generating and sending a correction message to the printer, said correction message including commands, data or combinations thereof for implementing the correction on the printer;

otherwise,

generating and sending a maintenance message requesting maintenance operation to be performed on the printer.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

sending a print message to the printer for allowing a custom ticket to be output by the printer.