Method and apparatus for supporting wide area gaming network

• US 6,830,515 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Issued: 12/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Rowe, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Neill, Michael
• Application Number:
  US10/241,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20040048669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40, 463/41, 463/42
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system

Abstract

A method of monitoring and providing support to a gaming device that includes monitoring the gaming device to determine an occurrence of an event, generating a message regarding the event, encoding the message, transmitting the message to a remote location over a communication link, receiving the message at the remote location, decoding the message, analyzing the message, and initiating a response to the message. In one embodiment, the event comprises an error or fault and the message regarding the event is transmitted using the simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP). Embodiments of the invention comprise apparatus forming a part of a gaming network or system including gaming devices such as gaming machines. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises servers associated with a remote service center and message data storage.

Claims

1. A method of providing support to a gaming device comprising:

determining the occurrence of an event meeting a predefined criteria at said gaming device;

generating a message regarding said event;

transmitting said message from said gaming device to a remote service center utilizing a dedicated communication link between said gaming device and remote service center;

analyzing said message regarding said event;

generating program code for use by said gaming device in response to said message regarding said event; and

transmitting said program code to said gaming device.

2. A method for supporting a gaming machine from a remote location comprising the steps of:

monitoring said gaming machine;

determining an occurence of an event at said gaming machine;

generating a message regarding said event;

encoding said message;

transmitting said message to said remote location, said message transmitted over a communication link including at least a portion of the Internet utilizing SMTP;

receiving said message at said remote location;

decoding said message;

analyzing said message; and

initiating a response to said message, wherein said initiating step comprises generating program code for use by said gaming machine and transmitting said program code to said gaming machine from said remote location.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said event comprises an error or fault at said gaming machine.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said event comprises a change in a parameter or characteristic of said gaming machine.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said analyzing step comprises classifying said message based upon said event.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said gaming machine is associated with a network, said network including a server connected at one or more times to the Internet, and said remote location comprises a service center including a host connected at one or more times to the Internet.

7. The method of claim 2, further including the step of:

establishing a point-to-point dedicated communication link between said remote location and said gaming machine, wherein said transmitting step involves transmitting said message over said dedicated communication link.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said message is transmitted from said gaming machine to said remote location over a first communication link and said step of initiating a response comprises transmitting a response from said remote location to said gaming machine over a second communication link.

9. The method of claim 2, further including the step of:

storing said message at said remote location.

10. The method of claim 2, further including the step of:

assigning a unique identifier to said message.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said unique identifier includes information identifying said gaming machine for which said message was sent.

12. A method of supporting a gaming machine adapted for accepting a wager from a player, playing a game, and granting a monetary award to the player based on an outcome of the game, the method comprising the steps of:

monitoring said gaming machine for the occurrence of any event requiring repair, intervention or correctional action associated with said gaming machine;

detecting an occurrence of an event at said gaming machine that results in a need or desire for repair, intervention or correctional action with respect to said gaming machine;

generating a message regarding said event, said message including information regarding at least the identity of said gaming machine and the nature of said event;

transmitting said message to a location remote from said gaming machine over a communication link including at least a portion of the Internet and utilizing a simple mail transfer protocol;

analyzing said message at said remote location to determine the type of event that has occurred and the type of response to be taken; and

initiating a response to said message at said remote location, wherein said response contains one or more details regarding a recommended or necessary repair, intervention or correctional action to be taken with respect to said gaming machine as a result of said event.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of initiating a response comprises generating a service order for personnel at the location of the gaming machine.

14. The method of claim 12, further including the step of:

conducting a repair or corrective measure on said gaming machine in accordance with said response to said message.

15. A method of providing support to a gaming machine comprising:

determining the occurrence of an event meeting a predefined criteria at said gaming machine, said gaming machine being adapted for accepting a wager from a player, playing a game, and granting a monetary award to the player based on an outcome of the game;

creating a message regarding said event, said message including information regarding at least the identity of said gaming machine and the nature of said event;

transmitting said message from said gaming machine to a remote service center utilizing a dedicated communication link between said gaming machine and said remote service center;

analyzing said message at said remote service center to determine the type of event that has occurred and the type of response to be taken; and

generating a response to said message at said remote service center, wherein said response contains one or more details regarding a recommended or necessary repair or correctional action to be taken with respect to said gaming machine as a result of said event.

16. A gaming system adapted for providing automated support to one or more gaming machines contained therein, comprising:

a plurality of gaming machines adapted for accepting wagers from players, playing games thereupon and granting monetary awards to players based on the outcomes of said games, wherein each of said plurality of gaming machines includes a dedicated master gaming controller adapted to provide one or more gaming events and control a plurality of gaming machine functions, an external cabinet defining an interior region and adapted to house a plurality of gaming machine components therein, and at least one display device located within or about said external cabinet and adapted to display gaming related information thereupon;

one or more programs adapted to detect the occurrence of an event meeting predefined criteria occurring at one or more affected gaming machines of said plurality of gaming machines, to generate an event message in response to a detected event, and to transmit said event message to a remote location, wherein said event message contains information regarding at least the identity of the affected gaming machine or machines and the nature of said event;

a remote server located at said remote location and adapted to analyze said event message to determine the type of event that has occurred and the type of response to be taken, and to generate a response to said event message, wherein said response contains one or more details regarding a recommended or necessary repair or correctional action to be taken with respect to said affected gaming machine or machines as a result of said event; and

at least one communication link or path between said affected gaming machine or machines and said remote server.

17. The gaming system of claim 16, wherein at least two of said plurality of gaming machines are linked by a common local area network, wherein said local area network is part of a larger wide area network including multiple local area networks, and wherein said at least one communication link or path is established through said local area network and said wide area network from said affected gaming machine or machines to said remote server.