Gaming machine payout controlling system and method
First Claim
1. A method of dispensing a payout from a gaming machine, in a system which includes means for dispensing a payout in the form of paper tokens wherein the dispensing means are adapted to be installed in the gaming machine, and software means for controlling the dispensing means, comprising the steps of:
- starting up the system; and
dispensing of the paper tokens from the dispensing means under the control of the software means.
11 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a system and method for a payout in the form of paper tokens from a gaming machine, the system includes a hopper for dispensing the paper tokens, a cassette for containing the paper tokens, and software for controlling the operations of the payout of the paper tokens from the gaming machine. The cassette and hopper are located in the gaming machine in plain view of a player, and are locked for security purposes. Each paper token is transported through a payout path by mechanisms in the cassette and the hopper which interact to dispense a paper token. A plurality of sensors sense the transport of the paper token through the payout path, the operation of the transport mechanism, and the status of the paper token supply. An escrow area is provided in the cassette for rejected paper tokens, as sensed by sensors and diverted by a diverting mechanism into the escrow area. A memory element in the cassette stores operational information regarding dispensing of the paper tokens. A communicating device in the gaming machine sends messages to a central monitoring system regarding the gaming machine operations. Monitoring devices monitor security and accounting functions of the gaming machines, including security cameras which monitor the payout of the paper tokens from a gaming machine after being signalled by the system that the payout is about to begin.
200 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method of dispensing a payout from a gaming machine, in a system which includes means for dispensing a payout in the form of paper tokens wherein the dispensing means are adapted to be installed in the gaming machine, and software means for controlling the dispensing means, comprising the steps of:
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starting up the system; and
dispensing of the paper tokens from the dispensing means under the control of the software means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of dispensing a payout from a gaming machine, in a system which includes means for dispensing a payout in the form of paper tokens wherein the dispensing means are adapted to be installed in the gaming machine, and software means for controlling the dispensing means comprising the steps of:
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starting up the system;
dispensing of the paper tokens from the dispensing means under the control of the software means;
means for containing the paper tokens to be dispensed by the dispensing means, which containing means are adapted to be installed in the dispensing means;
means for transporting a paper token from the containing means through the dispensing means, transporting a paper token from the containing means through the dispensing means;
means in the gaming machine for determining that a paper token is jammed in the transporting means;
sending a signal to the dispensing means to stop dispensing the paper tokens;
stopping the dispensing of the paper tokens responsive to the signal to stop dispensing the paper tokens sent by the gaming machine to the dispensing means;
means for sensing the dispensing of a paper token;
a timer for timing the dispensing of a paper token, which timer starts at the time of the beginning of the dispensing of the paper token, and runs until a set period of time expires, stopping prior to the set period of time if the sensing means sense the completed dispensing of the paper token;
starting the timer upon the beginning of the dispensing of the paper token; and
sending a signal to the dispensing means to stop dispensing the paper tokens when the timer expires.- View Dependent Claims (10, 20)
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11. A method of dispensing a payout from a gaming machine, in a system which includes means for dispensing a payout in the form of paper tokens, wherein the dispensing means are adapted to be installed in the gaming machine, comprising the steps of:
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starting up the system; and
monitoring the dispensing of the paper tokens from the dispensing means. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of dispensing a payout from a gaming machine, in a system which includes means for dispensing a payout in the form of paper tokens, wherein the dispensing means are adapted to be installed in the gaming machine, comprising the steps of:
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starting up the system;
monitoring the dispensing of the paper tokens from the dispensing means;
means for sensing the dispensing of a paper token;
a timer for timing the dispensing of a paper token, which timer starts at the time of the beginning of the dispensing of the paper token, and runs until a set period of time expires, stopping prior to the set period of time if the sensing means sense the completed dispensing of the paper token;
starting the timer upon the beginning of the dispensing of the paper token; and
sending a signal to the dispensing means to stop dispensing the paper token when the timer expires.
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21. A method of dispensing a payout from a gaming machine, in a system which includes a dispenser adapted to provide a payout in the form of paper tokens, wherein the dispenser is adapted for use with the gaming machine, and software means for controlling the dispenser, comprising the steps of:
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starting up the system; and
dispensing of the paper tokens from the dispenser under the control of the software means. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of dispensing a payout from a gaming machine, in a system which includes a dispenser adapted to provide a payout in the form of paper tokens, wherein the dispenser is adapted for use with the gaming machine, comprising the steps of:
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starting up the system; and
monitoring the dispensing of the paper tokens from the dispenser.
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Specification