Standard peripheral communications

• US 6,443,839 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2001
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: LeMay, Steven G., Stockdale, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROCKETTI, JULIE K
• Application Number:
  US09/818,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20010036866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 526 Days
• Field of Search: 463/16, 463/24, 463/29, 710/8-19, 710/62, 710/63, 710/64
• US Class Current: 463/16
• 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

Abstract

A disclosed gaming machine has a plurality of “gaming peripherals,” each communicating with a master gaming controller via a standard peripheral interface such as the USB (Universal Serial Bus). Further, the gaming peripherals employ a standard peripheral controller and one or more specialized “peripheral devices” (e.g., the actual lights, bill validators, ticket printers, etc. that perform the specific functions of the gaming peripherals). Much of the hardware associated with the peripheral controller is identical from one gaming peripheral to the next. Only a portion of the peripheral controller hardware is specific to the different types of gaming peripherals.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a master gaming controller that controls one or more games played on the gaming machine;

a mother board connected to the master gaming controller, said mother board comprising;

a root expansion hub containing a plurality of communications ports designed to connect to a peripheral communications connection;

a plurality of gaming peripherals coupled to the gaming machine and in communication with the master gaming controller via communication ports in the root expansion hub, each of the plurality of gaming peripherals comprising;

the peripheral communications connection,

one or more peripheral devices specific to each gaming peripheral, and

a peripheral controller designed or configured to control the one or more peripheral devices, the peripheral controller including (i) a control microprocessor, separate from the master gaming controller, designed or configured to control communication with the master gaming controller over the peripheral communications connection using a communication protocol, and (ii) a peripheral interface that directly connects to the one or more peripheral devices and is specific to the individual gaming peripheral;

wherein the master gaming controller and each of the plurality of gaming peripherals communicate using the same communication protocol and wherein the mother board is configured to allow additional gaming peripherals to be connected to the master gaming controller via the root expansion hub without requiring that the mother board be rewired.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising a mother board including an acceptor for the master gaming controller.

3. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the acceptor is configured to allow the master gaming controller to be removed from the mother board without requiring disconnection of the gaming peripherals from the root expansion hub.

4. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein at least one of the communications ports is a secure port, having a level of security exceeding that of other communication ports on the root expansion hub.

5. The gaming machine of claim 4, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to require that a specified gaming peripheral be connected only through the secure port.

6. The gaming machine of claim 4, wherein the secure port is secured by one or more doors, locks, sensors, evidence tapes, and combinations thereof.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine includes a plurality of hubs, each containing a plurality of communications ports for connecting to the plurality of gaming peripherals, and wherein at least one of the hubs is a secure hub, having a level of security exceeding that of one or more other hubs.

8. The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to require that a specified gaming peripheral be connected only through the secure hub.

9. The gaming machine of claim 7, wherein the secure hub is secured by one or more door locks, sensors, evidence tapes, and combinations thereof.

10. The gaming machine of claim 8, wherein the plurality of hubs are USB hubs.

11. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the gaming machine is a mechanical slot machine, a video slot machine, a keno game, a lottery game, or a video poker game.

12. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing software for a device identification protocol for at least some of the gaming peripherals.

13. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing one or more device drivers for at least some of the gaming peripherals.

14. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing software for the communication protocol that allows communication with each of the gaming peripherals.

15. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the same communication protocol used by the master gaming controller and the gaming peripherals is at least one of a USB communication protocol and a IEEE 1394 communication protocol.

16. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing software for encrypting, decrypting, or encrypting and decrypting communications between the master gaming controller and at least one of the gaming peripherals.

17. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to communicate high-level instructions that do not specify precise control of the peripheral devices of one of the gaming peripherals, and wherein the peripheral controller of the one gaming peripheral provides low-level instructions precisely controlling the operation of its peripheral devices and following the high-level instructions.

18. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the peripheral controller includes a non-volatile memory arranged to store at least one of a) configuration parameters specific to the individual gaming peripheral and b) state history information of the peripheral.

19. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the peripheral controller includes a power converter arranged to convert a voltage coming from the gaming machine to voltages used by the gaming peripheral.

20. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the one or more peripheral devices are selected from a group consisting of lights, printers, coin hoppers, bill validators, ticket readers, card readers, key pads, button panels, display screens, speakers, information panels, motors, mass storage devices and solenoids.

21. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to communicate with a second plurality of gaming peripherals connected through hubs in the form of a daisy chain wherein at least one of the hubs is connected to the root expansion hub on the mother board which is connected to the master gaming controller.

22. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of gaming peripherals further comprises a communications huo including a plurality of communication ports.

23. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein one or more of the peripheral communication connections is at least one of a USB compatible communication connection and a IEEE 1394 compatible communication connection.

73. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the communication ports are at least one of USB compatible communication ports and IEEE 1394 communication ports.

24. A gaming machine comprising:

a master gaming controller that controls one or more games played on the gaming machine; and

a plurality of gaming peripherals coupled to the gaming machine and in communication with the master gaming controller, said gaming peripheral comprising;

a peripheral communications connection compatible with a communication protocol,

one or more peripheral devices, and

a peripheral controller designed or configured to control the one or more peripheral devices, the peripheral controller including (i) a control microprocessor, separate from the master gaming controller, designed or configured to control communication with the master gaming controller over the peripheral communications connection using the communication protocol, and (ii) a peripheral interface that directly connects to the one or more peripheral devices

wherein the master gaming controller is designed or configured to;

a) to enumerate each of the peripheral devices in the one or more gaming peripherals, b) to load software drivers used to operate the enumerated peripheral devices and c) to communicate with each of the peripheral controllers using the same communication protocol.

25. The gaming machine of claim 24, further comprising a mother board including

an acceptor for the master gaming controller,

a root expansion hub containing a plurality of communications ports for connecting to the plurality of gaming peripherals.

26. The gaming machine of claim 25, wherein the acceptor is configured to allow the master gaming controller to be removed from the mother board without requiring disconnection of the gaming peripherals from the root expansion hub.

27. The gaming machine of claim 25, wherein the mother board is configured to allow additional gaming peripherals to be connected to the master gaming controller via the root expansion hub without requiring that the mother board be rewired.

28. The gaming machine of claim 25, wherein at least one of the communications ports is a secure port, having a level of security exceeding that of other ports on the hub.

29. The gaming machine of claim 28, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to require that a specified gaming peripheral be connected only through the secure port.

30. The gaming machine of claim 28, wherein the secure port is secured by one or more doors, locks, sensors, evidence tapes, and combinations thereof.

31. The gaming machine of claim 25, wherein the communication ports are at least one of USB compatible communication ports and IEEE 1394 communication ports.

32. The gaming machine of claim 24, wherein the gaming machine includes a plurality of hubs, each containing a plurality of communications ports for connecting to the plurality of gaming peripherals, and wherein at least one of the hubs is a secure hub, having a level of security exceeding that of one or more other hubs.

33. The gaming machine of claim 32, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to require that a specified gaming peripheral be connected only through the secure hub.

34. The gaming machine of claim 32, wherein the secure hub is secured by one or more doors, locks, sensors, evidence tapes, and combinations thereof.

35. The gaming machine of claim 32, wherein the plurality of hubs are USB hubs.

36. The gaming machine of claim 24, wherein the gaming machine is a mechanical slot machine, a video slot machine, a keno game, a lottery game, or a video poker game.

37. The gaming machine of claim 24, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing software for a standard device identification protocol for at least some of the gaming peripherals.

38. The gaming machine of claim 24, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing one or more device drivers for at least some of the gaming peripherals.

39. The gaming machine of claim 24, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing software for the communication protocol that allows communication with all the gaming peripherals via the peripheral communications connections.

40. The gaming machine of claim 24, wherein the same communication protocol used by the master gaming controller to communicate is at least one of a USB communication protocol and an IEEE 1394 communication protocol.

41. The gaming machine of claim 24, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing software for encrypting, decrypting, or encrypting and decrypting communications between the master gaming controller and at least one of the gaming peripherals.

42. The gaming machine of claim 24, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to communicate high-level instructions that do not specify precise control of the peripheral devices of one of the gaming peripherals, and wherein the peripheral controller of the one gaming peripheral provides low-level instructions precisely controlling the operation of its peripheral devices and following the high-level instructions.

43. The gaming machine of claim 24, wherein the peripheral controller includes a non-volatile memory arranged to store at least one of a) configuration parameters specific to the individual gaming peripheral and b) state history information of the peripheral.

44. The gaming machine of claim 24, wherein the peripheral controller includes a power converter arranged to convert a voltage coming from the gaming machine to voltages used by the gaming peripheral.

45. The gaming machine of claim 24, wherein the one or more peripheral devices are selected from a group consisting of lights, printers, coin hoppers, bill validators, ticket readers, card readers, key pads, button panels, display screens, speakers, information panels, motors, mass storage devices and solenoids.

46. The gaming machine of claim 24, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to communicate with a plurality of gaming peripherals connected through hubs with the peripheral communication connections in the form of a daisy chain where at least one of the gaming peripherals is connected to the root expansion hub on the mother board which is connected to the master gaming controller.

47. The gaming machine of claim 24, wherein the gaming peripheral includes a communications hub including the peripheral communications connection for communicating with the master gaming controller and a plurality of communications ports for connecting to the plurality of devices within the gaming peripheral.

48. The gaming machine of claim 24, wherein the peripheral communication connections are at least one of USB compatible communication connections and IEEE 1394 compatible communication connections.

49. The gaming machine of claim 24, wherein the same communication protocol used by the master gaming controller to communicate with the peripheral controllers is at least one of a USB communication protocol and an IEEE 1394 communication protocol.

50. A gaming machine comprising:

a master gaming controller that controls one or more games played on the gaming machine and that communicates with a plurality of gaming peripherals using a USB communication protocol; and

the plurality of gaming peripherals coupled to the gaming machine and in communication with the master gaming controller, each of the plurality of gaming peripherals comprising;

a USB compatible communication connection,

one or more peripheral devices specific to each gaming peripheral, and

a peripheral controller designed or configured to control the one or more peripheral devices, the peripheral controller including (i) a control microprocessor, separate from the master gaming controller, designed or configured to control communication with the master gaming controller over the USB compatible communication connection using the USB communication protocol, and (ii) a peripheral interface that directly connects to the one or more peripheral devices and is specific to the individual gaming peripheral.

51. The gaming machine of claim 50, further comprising a mother board including

an acceptor for the master gaming controller,

a root expansion hub containing a plurality of communications ports for connecting to the plurality of gaming peripherals.

52. The gaming machine of claim 51, wherein a portion of the communication ports are USB compatible communication ports.

53. The gaming machine of claim 51, wherein the acceptor is configured to allow the master gaming controller to be removed from the mother board without requiring disconnection of the gaming peripherals from the root expansion hub.

54. The gaming machine of claim 51, wherein the mother board is configured to allow additional gaming peripherals to be connected to the master gaming controller via the root expansion hub without requiring that the mother board be rewired.

55. The gaming machine of claim 51, wherein at least one of the communications ports is a secure port, having a level of security exceeding that of other ports on the hub.

56. The gaming machine of claim 55, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to require that a specified gaming peripheral be connected only through the secure port.

57. The gaming machine of claim 56, wherein the secure port is secured by one or more doors, locks, sensors, evidence tapes, and combinations thereof.

58. The gaming machine of claim 50, wherein the gaming machine includes a plurality of hubs, each containing a plurality of communications ports for connecting to the plurality of gaming peripherals, and wherein at least one of the hubs is a secure hub, having a level of security exceeding that of one or more other hubs.

59. The gaming machine of claim 58, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to require that a specified gaming peripheral be connected only through the secure hub.

60. The gaming machine of claim 58, wherein the secure hub is secured by one or more doors, locks, sensors, evidence tapes, and combinations thereof.

61. The gaming machine of claim 50, wherein the gaming machine is a mechanical slot machine, a video slot machine, a keno game, a lottery game, or a video poker game.

62. The gaming machine of claim 50, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing software for a standard device identification protocol for at least some of the gaming peripherals.

63. The gaming machine of claim 50, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing one or more device drivers for at least some of the gaming peripherals.

64. The gaming machine of claim 50, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing software for the communication protocol that allows communication with all the gaining peripherals via the peripheral communications connections.

65. The gaming machine of claim 50, wherein the same communication protocol used by the master gaming controller to communicate is a USB communication protocol.

66. The gaming machine of claim 50, wherein the master gaming controller includes a memory storing software for encrypting, decrypting, or encrypting and decrypting communications between the master gaming controller and at least one of the gaming peripherals.

67. The gaming machine of claim 50, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to communicate high-level instructions that do not specify precise control of the peripheral devices of one of the gaming peripherals, and wherein the peripheral controller of the one gaming peripheral provides low-level instructions precisely controlling the operation of its peripheral devices and following the high-level instructions.

68. The gaming machine of claim 50, wherein the peripheral controller includes a nonvolatile memory arranged to store at least one of a) configuration parameters specific to the individual gaming peripheral and b) state history information of the peripheral.

69. The gaming machine of claim 50, wherein the peripheral controller includes a power converter arranged to convert a voltage coming from the gaming machine to voltages used by the gaming peripheral.

70. The gaming machine of claim 50, wherein the one or more peripheral devices are selected from a group consisting of lights, printers, coin hoppers, bill validators, ticket readers, card readers, key pads, button panels, display screens, speakers, information panels, motors, mass storage devices and solenoids.

71. The gaming machine of claim 50, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to communicate with a plurality of gaming peripherals connected through hubs with the peripheral communication connections in the form of a daisy chain where at least one of the gaming peripherals is connected to the root expansion hub on the mother board which is connected to the master gaming controller.

72. The gaming machine of claim 50, wherein the gaming peripheral includes a communications hub including the peripheral communications connection for communicating with the master gaming controller and a plurality of communications ports for connecting to the plurality of devices within the gaming peripheral.