Methods for voucher and coupon printing

• US 7,099,035 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2005
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Transat Technologies
• Original Assignee: Transat Technologies
• Inventors: Brooks, Donald E., Quaif, Richard S., Shuldman, Bart C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Douglas Q.
• Application Number:
  US11/102,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20050195432A1
• Time in Patent Office: 509 Days
• Field of Search: 358 11- 118, 358/2.1, 358/3.32, 358538-539, 358/401, 358/403, 358/437, 358/448, 358/402, 358/470, 358/409, 358/426.02, 358/449, 358/462, 710/11, 710/17, 710/40, 709/321
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1206 resulting in increased flexibility in input data format or job format or job type
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1247 by conversion to printer ready format
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1254 Automatic configuration, e.g. by driver
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1284 Local printer device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1286 via local network
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/387 Payment using discounts or coupons relating to marketing G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 5/00 Receipt-giving machines cash registers giving receipts G07G1/00

Abstract

Methods are disclosed for driving a printer to print highly secure vouchers and less secure coupons. The printer can reside, for example, in a wagering terminal (e.g., slot machine), ticket machine, point-of-sale terminal or the like. A first driver receives, e.g., from a primary controller, data indicative of voucher information to be printed. A second driver receives, e.g., from a secondary controller, data indicative of coupon information to be printed. A processor responsive to the first and second drivers generates printer commands in a standard printer format so that the same printer can be used to print vouchers and coupons. Coupons do not have to be processed by the secure (and usually proprietary) hardware and/or software provided by the terminal manufacturer for printing vouchers.

Claims

1. A method for driving a printer, comprising:

receiving from a primary controller, at a first driver, data indicative of cash information to be printed;

receiving from a secondary controller, at a second driver, data indicative of non-cash information to be printed; and

generating printer commands in a standard format for said printer in response to data received from said first and second drivers.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first driver receives data in a first format, and said second driver receives data in a second format.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein:

said first driver receives data in one of an RS-232, Netplex, USB, Ethernet or I2C format; and

said second driver receives data in another one of said RS-232, Netplex, USB, Ethernet or I2C formats.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

providing a processor;

operating said first driver and said processor together to decode data from said primary controller and convert the decoded primary controller data to said standard format; and

operating said second driver and said processor together to decode data from said secondary controller and convert the decoded secondary controller data to said standard format.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first driver processes the data received from the primary controller for use in printing a cash voucher.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said second driver processes the data received from the secondary controller for use in printing a non-cash coupon.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second driver processes the data received from the secondary controller for use in printing a non-cash coupon.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first and second drivers are built into the printer.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first and second drivers are external to the printer.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said printer is a gaming machine printer.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said printer is a point of sale terminal printer.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the primary controller is a local controller and the secondary controller is a central system controller.

21. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the first and second drivers are located in a printer interface, which is separate from the printer.

22. A method in accordance with claim 21, wherein:

the first driver receives said data indicative of said cash information from said primary controller via a first communication path;

the second driver receives said data indicative of said non-cash information from said secondary controller via a second communication path; and

the printer interface communicates with the printer via a third communication path.

23. A method in accordance with claim 22, further comprising:

buffering received data at said interface in the event that the printer is not available to receive said data; and

subsequently communicating said buffered data from said interface to the printer via the third communication path when the printer becomes available.

24. A method in accordance with claim 23, further comprising:

notifying the controller from which the data was received that the printer was not available when the data was received.

25. A method in accordance with claim 22, wherein:

if data is simultaneously received at said interface from both controllers, preference is given to a predetermined one of the controllers.

26. A method in accordance with claim 25, wherein:

data from the predetermined one of the controllers is communicated to said printer via said third communication path;

data from the other one of said controllers is buffered; and

said buffered data is subsequently communicated to said printer via said third communication path after said data from said predetermined one of said controllers is printed.

13. A method for driving a printer from a primary controller and a secondary controller, comprising the steps of:

monitoring communications from said primary controller and secondary controller;

determining printer availability when a printer communication is received from one of said controllers, and;

(i) if the printer is available, communicating received printer data to the printer in a standard printer format;

(ii) if the printer is not available, buffering the received printer data and subsequently communicating it to the printer in a standard printer format after the printer becomes available; and

continuing to monitor said communications.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein if printer communications are simultaneously received from both controllers, preference is given to a predetermined one of the controllers.

15. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein said printer is a gaming machine printer.

16. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein said printer is a point of sale terminal printer.

17. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein if the printer is not available, notifying the controller from which the printer communication was received that the printer is busy.

18. A method is accordance with claim 13, wherein if the printer is not available, received printer data are buffered and subsequently printed when the printer becomes available, without notifying the controller from which the printer communication was received that the printer was not available when the printer communication was received.

27. A method in accordance with claim 13, further comprising:

providing a printer interface for;

receiving and monitoring communications from said primary controller via a first communication path;

receiving and monitoring communications from said secondary controller via a second communication path;

buffering said received printer data if the printer is not available; and

communicating said received printer data to said printer via a third communication path.

28. A method in accordance with claim 27, wherein:

said printer interface is external to the printer.

29. A method in accordance with claim 27, wherein if printer data is simultaneously received at said printer interface from both controllers, preference is given to a predetermined one of the controllers.

30. A method in accordance with claim 29, wherein:

received printer data from the predetermined one of said controllers is communicated to said printer via said third communication path;

received printer data from the other one of said controllers is buffered; and

said buffered printer data is subsequently communicated to said printer via said third communication path after said printer data from said predetermined one of said controllers is printed.

19. A method for driving a printer from a primary controller and a secondary controller, comprising the steps of:

monitoring communications from said controllers;

determining printer availability when a printer communication is received from one of said controllers, and;

(i) if the printer is available, communicating received printer data to the printer in a standard printer format;

(ii) if the printer is not available when printer data are received from the primary controller, buffering and subsequently communicating the received printer data to the printer in said standard printer format when the printer becomes available, without notifying the primary controller that the printer is not available; and

(iii) if the printer is not available when printer data are received from the secondary controller, notifying the secondary controller that the printer is busy.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19, wherein the primary controller is a local controller and the secondary controller is a central system controller.