Gaming device network

• US 6,638,170 B1
• Filed: 10/16/2000
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Crumby, Hardy Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIM T
• Application Number:
  US09/688,783
• Time in Patent Office: 1,107 Days
• Field of Search: 463/39, 463/40, 463/41, 463/42, 455/73, 375/219, 375/239, 375/295, 375/297, 375/303, 375/316, 375/334, 370/318, 370/343, 370/349, 370/434, 370/913
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication

Abstract

A method and apparatus for establishing a data network between gaming devices is disclosed. In one embodiment a wireless communication system facilitates communication between gaming devices or communication between gaming devices and a server or central site. Wireless communication overcomes the drawbacks associated with wired networks that occur when the gaming devices are moved from one location to another by individuals not trained as computer network technicians. In one configuration the wireless network adopts a packet based communication protocol with transmit and receive processing layers. To achieve improved communication performance and reliability the transmitter may operate at about 2.4 GHz transmit frequency and adopt FSK type coding. In one embodiment a concentrator connects via a wireless or hardwired connection to a main server or hardwired LAN to thereby serve as a main hub to facilitate communication between a plurality of gaming devices and the server.

Claims

1. A communication network comprising:

a first gaming device comprising;

a first gaming processor configured to execute gaming software;

a first network interface configured to interface the first gaming processor to a network;

a first wireless transceiver coupled to the first network interface and configured to communicate over a wireless channel;

a second gaming device comprising;

a second gaming processor configured to execute gaming software;

a second network interface configured to interface the second gaming processor to the network;

a second wireless transceiver coupled to the second network interface and configured to communicate over a wireless channel;

a concentrator comprising;

a server interface configured to communicate with a server computer; and

a third wireless transceiver configured to communicate over a wireless channel with the first wireless transceiver and the second wireless transceiver;

a bridge or repeater comprising a fourth wireless transceiver configured to provide a communication link between the second wireless transceiver and the concentrator when the second wireless transceiver is out of range of the concentrator.

2. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceivers operate at about 2.4 GHZ carrier frequency.

3. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the network interfaces are configured to exchange packets over the wireless channel.

4. The communication network of claim 3 wherein at least one of the packets comprises an access code portion, a header portion, and a payload portion.

5. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the first and second wireless transceivers utilize a frequency shift keying coding system to communicate over a wireless channel.

6. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the first and second wireless transceivers transmit signals at a variable power levels.

7. The communication network of claim 1, wherein the first gaming device and the second gaming device are located in a casino and the second gaming device movable by casino personnel.