Method and apparatus for managing gaming machine code downloads

• US 7,131,909 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Issued: 11/07/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Rowe, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn, Corbett B.
• Application Number:
  US10/241,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20040048667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 463/40, 463/42, 463/16, 463/20
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/656 while running
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

A gaming machine is arranged with a gaming machine controller and a secondary “queuing” device, preferably a player tracking controller having a memory. A communication link is provided between the player tracking controller and gaming machine controller, and the player tracking controller and a player tracking network including a player tracking host or server. A game code server is connected to the player tracking network. In accordance with a method, gaming machine code or data, such as game or other control code, is transmitted from the game code server over the player tracking network to the player tracking controller. The code may be processed by the player tracking controller, including by storing it in the player tracking controller memory. The code may then be transmitted to the gaming machine controller for storage and execution.

Claims

1. A system for providing a gaming machine with machine readable code from at least one remote location comprising:

at least one gaming machine, said gaming machine comprising;

a gaming machine controller adapted to control a game of chance played on the gaming machine by executing the machine readable game code,

a first memory for storing the machine readable game code executed by the gaming machine controller;

a display for presenting the game of chance;

a player tracking device, coupled to the gaming machine and operable to communicate with the gaming controller, a player tracking host and a game code host,

a player tracking controller, separate from the gaming machine controller, adapted for a) controlling one or more peripheral devices coupled to the player tracking device, b) downloading first machine readable game code to the player tracking device from the same code host wherein the first machine readable game code is not intended for execution by the player tracking controller or for execution by the one or more peripheral devices and c) transmitting the first machine readable game code to the gaming machine controller wherein the gaming machine is operable to replace a first instance of the game of chance played on the gaming machine with a second instance of the game of chance played on the gaming machine by executing the first machine readable code;

a first peripheral device adapted to receive first player tracking information;

a second peripheral device adapted to display second player tracking information;

a first communication interface associated with said player tracking device adapted to permit said player tracking device to receive the first machine readable game code that is for execution by the gaming machine controller from the game code host and to communicate with the player tracking host;

a second memory for storing at least a portion of the first machine readable game code received from the game code host;

a third memory for storing machine readable player tracking code executed by the player tracking controller;

a second communication interface adapted to allow transmission of information between the gaming machine controller and the player tracking device wherein the player tracking device is configured to transmit over the second communication interface the first machine readable game code to the gaming machine controller the player tracking host arranged to store data regarding activities of one or more players of said gaming machine and to communicate with the player tracking device via the first communication interface;

the game code host adapted to store the first machine readable game code and to transmit the first machine readable game code to the player tracking device;

a communication network adapted to allow communication between the player tracking host, the game code host and the player tracking device.

2. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the communication network includes a wireless communication link.

3. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the one or more peripheral devices includes a card reader.

4. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said player tracking host and said game code host comprise a common device.

5. The system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said player tracking device comprises a self-contained element connected to said gaming machine.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the player tracking device is operable to store the portion of the first machine readable game code to the second memory while the gaming machine is executing the machine readable game code.

7. A method of providing a game of chance on a gaming machine comprising a) a gaming machine controller adapted to control the game of chance played on the gaming machine and b) a player tracking device including a player tracking controller coupled to the gaming machine adapted to communicate player tracking data to a player tracking host under the control of the player tracking controller, the method comprising:

storing machine readable game code to a first memory on the gaming machine;

generating, under control of the game machine controller, the game of chance by executing the machine readable game code;

storing machine readable player tracking code to a third memory on the player tracking device;

providing, under control of the player tracking controller, player tracking services by executing the machine readable player tracking code;

receiving, under control of the player controller, first machine readable game code from a remote device wherein the first machine readable game code is not intended for execution by the player tracking controller;

storing, under control of the player controller, at least a portion of first machine readable game code to a third memory on the player tracking device;

transmitting the first machine readable game code to the gaming machine controller wherein the gaming machine is operable to replace a first instance of the game of chance played on the gaming machine with a second instance of the game of chance played on the gaming machine by executing the first machine readable code;

executing, under control of the gaming machine controller, the first machine readable game code to generate the game of chance played on the gaming machine; and

communicating, under control of the player tracking controller, the player tracking data including amounts bet to the player tracking host.

8. The method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising generating a request for the first machine readable code at said gaming machine and including the step of transmitting said request from said gaming machine to said remote device.

9. The method in accordance with claim 8 comprising generating said request at said player tracking controller of said gaming machine.

10. The method in accordance with claim 8 comprising generating said request in response to a player providing player identification information to said player tracking controller.

11. The method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said providing step comprises reading a player tracking card at a card reader associated with said player tracking controller.

12. The method in accordance with claim 7 comprising transmitting said first machine readable game code over at least a portion of a network with which said gaming machine and the player tracking host are associated.

13. The method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising receiving the first machine readable game code in portions wherein the portions are received at different times and assembling the portions of the first machine readable game code.

14. The method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising generating a request for the first machine readable code at said gaming machine wherein said request includes priority information regarding a time for transmitting said first machine readable game code to the player tracking device.

15. The method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising, under control of the player tracking controller, compiling the first machine readable game code prior to transmitting the first machine readable game code to the gaming machine controller.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the first machine readable game code is received under control of the player tracking controller from the remote device while the gaming machine is generating the game of chance by executing the machine readable game code.

17. A gaming machine for providing wagering on a game of chance, said gaming machine comprising:

a gaming machine controller adapted to control the game of chance played on the gaming machine by executing machine readable game code,

a first memory for storing the machine readable game code executed by the gaming machine controller;

a display for presenting the game of chance;

a player tracking device operable to communicate with the gaming controller a player tracking host and a game code host,

a player tracking controller, separate from the gaming machine controller, adapted for a) controlling one or more peripheral devices coupled to the player tracking device, b) downloading first machine readable game code to the player tracking device from the game code host wherein the first machine readable game code is not intended for execution by the player tracking controller or for execution by the one or more peripheral devices and c) transmitting the first machine readable game code to the gaming machine controller wherein the gaming machine is operable to replace a first instance of the game of chance played on the gaming machine with a second instance of the game of chance played on the gaming machine by executing the first machine readable code;

a first peripheral device adapted to receive first player tracking information;

a second peripheral device adapted to display second player tracking information;

a first communication interface associated with said player tracking device adapted to permit said player tracking device to receive the first machine readable game code that is for execution by the gaming machine controller from the game code host and to communicate with the player tracking host;

a second communication interface adapted to allow transmission of information between the gaming machine controller and the player tracking device wherein the player tacking device is configured to transmit over the second communication interface the first machine readable game code to the gaming machine controller;

a second memory for storing at least a portion of the first machine readable game code received from the game code host; and

a third memory for storing machine readable player tracking code executed by the player tracking controller.

18. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein said player tracking host and said game code host comprise a common device.

19. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the player tracking controller is further adapted for compiling the first machine readable game code prior to transmitting the first machine readable game code to the gaming machine controller.

20. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein to player tracking controller is further adapted for receiving to first machine readable game code in portions wherein the portions are received at different times and assembling the portions of first machine readable game code.

21. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the player tracking controller is further adapted for determining a status of the gaming machine controller and scheduling the transmission of the first machine readable game code to the gaming machine controller in response to the determined status of the gaming machine controller.

22. The gaming machine of claim 17, wherein the player tracking device is operable to store the portion of the first machine readable game code to the second memory while the gaming machine is executing the machine readable game code.

23. A player tracking device operable to communicate with a gaming controller on a gaming machine, a player tracking host and a game code host, said player tracking device comprising:

one or more mounting mechanisms for coupling the player tracking device to the gaming machine;

a player tracking controller, separate from the gaming machine controller, adapted for a) controlling one or more peripheral devices coupled to the player tracking device, b) downloading first machine readable game code to the player tracking device from the game code host wherein the first machine readable game code is not intended for execution by the player tracking controller or for execution by the one or more peripheral devices, c) transmitting the first machine readable game code to the gaming machine controller wherein the gaming machine is operable to replace a first instance of the game of chance played on the gaming machine with a second instance of the game of chance played on the gaining machine by executing the first machine readable code, d) receiving player tracking data from the gaining machine controller and e) sending the player tracking data to the player tracking host;

a first peripheral device adapted to receive first player tracking information;

a second peripheral device adapted to display second player tracking information;

a first communication interface associated with said player tracking device adapted to permit said player tracking device to receive the first machine readable game code that is for execution by the gaming machine controller from the game code host and to communicate with the player tracking host;

a second communication interface adapted to allow transmission of information between the gaming machine controller and the player tracking device wherein the player tracking device is configured to transmit over the second communication interface the first machine readable game code to the gaming machine controller

a first memory for storing at least a portion of the first machine readable game code received from the game code host;

a second memory for storing machine readable player tracking code executed by the player tracking controller.

24. The player tracking device of claim 23, wherein said player tracking host and said game code host comprise a common device.

25. The player tracking device of claim 23, wherein the player tracking controller is further adapted for compiling the first machine readable game code prior to transmitting the first machine readable game code to the gaming machine controller.

26. The player tracking device of claim 23, wherein the player tracking controller is further adapted for receiving the first machine readable game code in portions wherein the portions are received at different times and assembling the portions of first machine readable game code.

27. The player tracking device of claim 23, wherein the player tracking controller is further adapted for determining a status of the gaming machine controller and scheduling the transmission of the first machine readable game code to the gaming machine controller in response to the determined status of the gaming machine controller.

28. The player tracking device of claim 23, wherein the player tracking device is operable to download the portion of the first machine readable game code to the second memory while receiving player tracking data generated from the gaming machine controller.