DEVICE MONITORING AND WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FOR VENDING MACHINES

• US 20110195789A1
• Filed: 11/10/2010
• Published: 08/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Leap Forward Gaming, Inc. (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: LEAP Forward Gaming
• Inventors: Wells, William R.
• Application Number:
  US12/943,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20110195789A1
• 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 of operating a device on a vending platform including a vending platform controller;

receiving, via a first communication pathway, operational status information from a value input device (VID) controller on a VID coupled to the vending platform, said VID controller configured to receive commands from the vending platform controller;

receiving, via a second communication pathway, operational status information from a value output device (VOD) controller on a VOD coupled to the vending platform, said VOD controller configured to receive commands from the vending platform controller and dispense value from the vending platform; and

sending operational status information received from the VID and the VOD to a remote server via a wireless communication interface on the device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, via a third communication pathway, information from the vending platform controller.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the operational status information from the VID includes information from one or more sensors coupled to the VID.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the operational status information from the VOD includes information from one or more sensors coupled to the VOD.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a message including commands or data for performing a corrective action on the VID or the VOD from the remote server and sending the message to the VID or the VOD.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information associated with a security event on the vending platform and sending the information to the remote server.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

operating the device in a low-power mode including sending one or more wireless communications to the remote server when power to the vending platform is interrupted.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a download of software or firmware for one of the VID controller, the VOD controller or the vending platform controller and sending the download to the VID controller, the VOD controller or the vending platform controller.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the VOD is a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense one or more different items of merchandise from the vending platform.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the VOD is a currency dispenser or a coin dispenser.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the VID is a bill acceptor or a card reader.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining an error pattern indicating the VID or the VOD is performing below an operational performance level, determining a corrective action for the error pattern, applying the corrective action to the VID or the VOD and after the correction action is applied, determining a new operational performance level.

13. A method on a device comprising:

receiving operational information on at least a transaction by transaction basis from all of the value input devices and value output devices on a vending platform wherein each of the value input devices and the value output devices are communicatively coupled to a vending platform controller on a vending platform;

based upon the operational information, determining a value amount added to the vending platform and a value amount removed from the vending platform as a function of time; and

sending the determined added value amount and the determined value amount removed from the vending platform as a function of time to a remote device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the device is a remote server separate from the vending platform.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the device is a vending platform enhancement module located on said vending platform.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said determining of the value amount removed from the vending platform includes determining a value of merchandise dispensed from the vending platform.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

after an item of merchandise is loaded into the vending platform, determining the item of merchandise is to be removed from the vending platform.

18. The method of claim 13, based upon the operational information, determining an item of value to add to the vending platform.

19. The method of claim 13, determining the vending platform needs a maintenance visit and generating a message indicating the maintenance visit is needed.

20. A vending platform enhancement module (VPEM) comprising:

a first communication interface for communicating with a vending platform controller on a vending platform;

a second communication interface for communicating with a value input device, a value output device or combinations thereof on the vending platform;

a third communication interface for wirelessly communicating with a remote server;

a VPEM controller, including a processor and a memory, configured to;

     1) receive status information from the value input device, the value output device or the combinations thereof; and

     2) control a wireless communications to send the status information via the third communication interface to the remote server.

21. The VPEM of claim 20, wherein the value output device is a dispensing mechanism for dispensing an item of merchandise.

22. The VPEM of claim 21, wherein the item of merchandise is a food or drink item.

23. The VPEM of claim 21, wherein the item of merchandise is a liquid fuel.

24. The VPEM of claim 21, wherein the value input device is a bill acceptor or a card reader.

25. The VPEM of claim 20, further comprising:

a display.

26. The VPEM of claim 25, wherein the VPEM controller is further configured to generate an attract feature on the display.

27. The VPEM of claim 20, further comprising:

a camera wherein the VPEM is configured to store image data for one or more users of the vending platform.

28. The VPEM of claim 20, further comprising:

an audio device.

29. The VPEM of claim 20, wherein the VPEM is further configured to receive power from a power supply associated with the vending platform.

30. The VPEM of claim 29, further comprising:

a back-up power source for operating the VPEM when a primary power supply associated with the vending platform is interrupted.

31. The VPEM of claim 30, wherein the VPEM is configured to operate in a low-power mode including wireless communication capabilities when the primary power supply is interrupted.