Gaming machine maintenance system and method

• US 7,201,660 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Issued: 04/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Kiely, Daryn George, Ollins, Richard I., Moser, Timothy Wayne, Severance, David Alan, Casey, Brian Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Thai; Xuan M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hoel; Matthew D.
• Application Number:
  US10/440,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20040235562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,422 Days
• Field of Search: 463/39, 463/42, 340/539.25, 340/506, 340/679, 340/7.1, 348/14.02, 455/41.2, 455/412.2, 455/423, 455/67.11, 455/73, 700/108, 702181-185, 705/1, 705/28, 705/9, 714/26, 715/500
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A handheld maintenance module may be provided with a display unit capable of generating video images, a wireless transceiver device capable of wireless dats transmission and reception and adapted to be wirelessly coupled to a maintenance controller, and a module controller coupled to the display unit and the wireless data transceiver device. the module controller may be programmed to allow a person to receive a gaming unit maintenance work order that represents a request for a repair of a gaming unit, to cause a video image representing the gaming unit maintenance work order to be displayed on the display unit, to cause a video image of one or more instructions to repair the gaming unit to be displayed, to allow the gaming unit maintenance work order to be closed upon completion of the repair of the gaming unit, and to forward repair data to the maintenance controller.

Claims

1. A handheld maintenance module comprising:

a display unit capable of generating video images;

a wireless transceiver device capable of wireless data transmission and reception, said wireless transceiver device adapted to be wirelessly coupled to a maintenance controller; and

a module controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said wireless transceiver device, said module controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said module controller being programmed to allow a person to receive a gaming unit maintenance work order, said gaming unit maintenance work order representing a request for a repair of a gaming unit,

said module controller being programmed to cause a video image representing said gaming unit maintenance work order to be displayed on said display unit,

said module controller being programmed to cause a video image of one or more instructions to repair said gaming unit to be displayed,

said module controller being programmed to cause a gaming unit part order to be generated at a remote location, said gaming unit part order representing a request for a gaming unit part required to perform said repair of said gaming unit, and to notify said person when said gaming unit part is available,

said module controller being programmed to allow said gaming unit maintenance work order to be closed upon completion of said repair of said gaming unit, and

said module controller being programmed to forward repair data to said maintenance controller, said repair data representing repair information generated during said repair of said gaming unit.

2. A handheld maintenance module as defined in claim 1, wherein said maintenance controller is programmed to update said instructions to repair to include said repair data.

3. A handheld maintenance module as defined in claim 1, wherein said maintenance controller is programmed to generate said gaming unit maintenance work order upon receipt of a gaming unit maintenance event, said gaming unit maintenance event representative of a problem with said gaming unit, said gaming unit work order comprising a gaming unit identification number of said gaming unit and a description of said problem with said gaming unit, and wherein said module controller is programmed to allow said person to acknowledge receipt of said gaming unit maintenance work order.

4. A handheld maintenance module as defined in claim 1, wherein said maintenance controller is programmed to generate a set of data for a casino expert maintenance system, said casino set of data comprising said instructions to repair, said instructions to repair comprising text and images of said repair, said casino expert maintenance system updated with said repair data upon completion of said repair, and wherein said module controller is programmed to allow said person to access said casino expert maintenance system via said display screen.

5. A handheld maintenance module as defined in claim 4, wherein said instructions to repair further comprising an audio message of said repair.

6. A handheld maintenance module as defined in claim 1, further comprising a speaker and a microphone, wherein said module controller is programmed to allow said person to communicate with another person or another handheld maintenance controller during said repair of said gaming unit.

7. A handheld maintenance module as defined in claim 6, said speaker being capable of receiving a verbal instruction.

8. A handheld maintenance module as defined in claim 1, wherein said wireless transceiver comprises an optical transceiver capable o F optical data transmission and reception, said optical transceiver of said handheld maintenance module being optically coupled to an optical transceiver of said gaming unit, wherein said module controller is programmed to facilitate communication between said optical transceiver of said handheld maintenance monitor and said optical transceiver of said gaming unit, and wherein said module controller is programmed to allow a repair person to query said gaming unit for a set of gaming unit diagnostic information via said optical transceiver.

30. A handheld maintenance module as defined in claim 1, wherein said maintenance controller is programmed to generate said gaming unit maintenance work order upon receipt of a gaming unit maintenance event, said gaming unit maintenance event representative of a problem with said gaming unit, said gaming unit work order comprising a gaming unit identification number of said gaming unit and a description of said problem with said gaming unit, and wherein said module controller is programmed to allow said person to acknowledge receipt of said gaming unit maintenance work order.

9. A gaming system that allows automated gaming unit maintenance event notification, said gaming system comprising:

a plurality of gaming units, one of said gaming units comprising;

a display unit that is capable of generating video images;

a first wireless transceiver device capable of wireless data transmission;

a controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said wireless transceiver device, said controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said gaming unit controller,

said controller being programmed to allow a gaming person to make a wager,

said controller being programmed to cause a video image to be generated on said display unit, said video image representing a game,

said controller being programmed to determine a value payout associated with an outcome of said game represented by said video image;

a maintenance computer operatively coupled to said one of said gaming units, said maintenance computer comprising;

a second wireless transceiver device capable of wireless data transmission and reception;

a maintenance database that stores a set of maintenance data comprising a set of gaming unit maintenance event data, a set of repair data, and a repair instruction;

a maintenance controller operatively coupled to said maintenance database and said second wireless transceiver device, said maintenance controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said maintenance controller,

said maintenance controller being programmed to generate a gaming unit maintenance work order upon receipt of a gaming unit maintenance event, said gaming unit maintenance event representing a problem with one of said gaming units, said gaming unit maintenance work order representing a request for a repair of said one gaming unit, and

said maintenance controller being programmed to generate a set of data for a casino expert maintenance system, said casino expert maintenance system comprising an instruction to repair said one gaming unit;

a handheld maintenance module comprising;

a display unit capable of generating video images;

a third wireless transceiver device capable of wireless data transmission and reception, said third wireless transceiver device adapted to be wirelessly coupled to said maintenance computer;

a module controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said third wireless transceiver device, said module controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor of said module controller,

said module controller being programmed to allow a repair person to receive said gaming unit maintenance work order representing said request for said repair of said one gaming unit,

said module controller being programmed to cause a video image representing said gaming unit maintenance work order to be displayed on said display unit of said handheld maintenance module,

said module controller being programmed to access said casino expert maintenance system and cause a video image of said instruction to repair to be displayed on said display unit of said handheld maintenance module,

said module controller being programmed to allow said gaming unit maintenance work order to be closed upon completion of said repair of said one gaming unit, and

said module controller being programmed to forward a set of repair data to said maintenance controller, said set of repair data resulting from said repair of said one gaming unit.

10. A gaming system as defined in claim 9, further comprising an event transaction processor operatively coupled to said one of said plurality of gaming units, said maintenance computer, and a management database,

said event transaction processor adapted to route an event that is received from said one of said gaming units to said maintenance computer when said event transaction processor determines that said received event is a gaming unit maintenance event;

and

said event transaction processor adapted to store an event that is received from said one of said gaming units to said management database when said event transaction processor determines that said received event is not a gaming unit maintenance event.

11. A gaming system as defined in claim 9, wherein said handheld maintenance module further comprises a speaker and a microphone, wherein said module controller is programmed to allow a repair person to communicate with another person or another haudheld maintenance module during said repair of said one gaming unit.

12. A gaming system as defined in claim 10, further comprising a group data controller operatively coupled to said plurality of gaming units and said event transaction processor, said group data controller configured to accumulate and route an event received from said one of said plurality of gaming units to said event transaction processor.

13. A maintenance method for a gaming machine, said maintenance method comprising:

causing a video image representing a gaming unit maintenance work order to be generated on a display unit of a handheld maintenance module in response to an occurrence of a gaming unit maintenance event in a gaming unit, said gaming unit maintenance event representing a problem with said gaming unit, said video image representing a request for a repair of a gaming unit to be generated;

enabling access to a casino expert maintenance system that provides repair instructions to repair said problem with said gaming unit;

causing a video image representing said repair instructions to be displayed on said display unit;

generating a gaming unit part order at a remote location, said gaming unit part order representing a request for a gaming unit part required to perform said repair of said gaming unit;

notifying a person when said gaming unit part is available for receipt by said person

allowing said gaming unit maintenance work order to be closed upon completion of said repair of said gaming unit;

causing repair data generated during said repair of said gaming unit to be forwarded to a maintenance controller.

14. A method as defined in claim 13, further comprising allowing said person to communicate with another person during said repair of said gaming unit.

15. A method as defined in claim 13, further comprising enabling said person to query said gaming unit for gaming unit diagnostic information via an optical transceiver.

16. A maintenance method for a first gaming machine, said maintenance method comprising:

causing a video image representing a first gaming unit maintenance work order to be generated on a display unit of a second gaming unit in response to an occurrence of a first gaming unit maintenance event in said first gaming unit, said first gaming unit maintenance event representing a problem with said first gaming unit, said video image representing a request for a repair of said first gaming unit;

enabling access to a casino expert maintenance system that provides repair instructions to repair said problem with said first gaming unit;

causing a video image representing said repair instructions to be displayed on said display unit;

generating a gaming unit part order at a remote location, said gaming unit part order representing a request for a gaming unit part required to perform said repair of said first gaming unit;

notifying a person when said gaming unit part is available for receipt by said person;

allowing said first gaming unit maintenance work order to be closed upon completion of said repair of said first gaming unit;

causing repair data generated during said repair of said first gaming unit to be forwarded to a maintenance controller.

17. A method as defined in claim 16, further comprising allowing said person to communicate with another person during said repair of said first gaming unit.

18. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein said first gaming unit is said second gaming unit.

19. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein said first gaming unit and said second gaming unit are different.

20. A method as defined in claim 16, wherein said first gaming unit and the second gaming unit are stationary units.

21. A handheld maintenance module comprising:

a communication unit capable of generating audio signals;

a wireless transceiver device capable of wireless data transmission and reception, said wireless transceiver device adapted to be wirelessly coupled to a maintenance controller; and

a module controller operatively coupled to said communication unit and said wireless transceiver device,

said module controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said module controller programmed to cause a gaming unit part order to be generated at a remote location, said gaming unit part order representing a request for a gaming unit part required to perform said repair of said gaming unit, and to notify said person when said gaming unit part is available,

said module controller being programmed to allow a person to receive a gaming unit maintenance work order, said gaming unit maintenance work order representing a request for a repair of a gaming unit,

said module controller being programmed to cause a first audio message representing said gaming unit maintenance work order to be generated on said communication unit,

said module controller being programmed to cause a second audio message of one or more instructions to repair said gaming unit to be generated,

said module controller being programmed to allow said gaming unit maintenance work order to be closed upon completion of said repair of said gaming unit, and

said module controller being progranirned to forward repair data to said maintenance controller, said repair data representing repair information generated during said repair of said gaming unit.

22. A handheld maintenance module as defined in claim 21, wherein said communication unit is a speaker.

23. A handheld maintenance module as defined in claim 21, wherein said maintenance controller is programmed to update said instructions to repair to include said repair data.

24. A handheld maintenance module as defined in claim 21, wherein said maintenance controller is programmed to generate said gaming unit maintenance work order upon receipt of a gaming unit maintenance event, said gaming unit maintenance event representative of a problem with said gaming unit, said gaming unit work order comprising a gaming unit identification number of said gaming unit and a description of said problem with said gaming unit, and wherein said module controller is programmed to allow said person to acknowledge receipt of said gaming unit maintenance work order.

25. A handheld maintenance module as defined in claim 21, wherein said maintenance controller is programmed to generate a set of data for a casino expert maintenance system, said set of data comprising said instructions to repair, said instructions to repair comprising an audio description of said repair, said casino expert maintenance system updated with said repair data upon completion of said repair, and wherein said module controller is programmed to allow said person to access said casino expert maintenance system via said communication unit.

26. A handheld maintenance module as defined in claim 21, wherein generating said second audio message comprises converting a text message to an audio message.

27. A maintenance method for a gaming machine, said maintenance method comprising:

determining if an occunence of an event in a gaming unit is a gaming unit maintenance event, said gaming unit maintenance event representing a problem with said gaming unit;

generating a gaming unit maintenance work order corresponding to said gaming unit maintenance event;

storing a set of data associated with said gaming unit maintenance event and said gaming unit maintenance work order in a database;

causing a gaming unit part order to be generated at a remote location, said gaming unit part order representing a request for a gaming unit part required to perform a repair of said gaming unit;

causing a video image representing said gaming unit maintenance work order to be generated on a display unit of a handheld maintenance module, said video image representing a request for a repair of a gaming unit to be generated;

enabling access to a casino expert maintenance system that provides repair instructions to repair said problem with said gaming unit;

causing a video image representing said repair instructions to be displayed on said display unit;

allowing said gaming unit maintenance work order to be closed upon completion of said repair of said gaming unit;

causing repair data generated during said repair of said gaming unit to be forwarded to a maintenance controller.

28. A method as defined in claim 27, further comprising enabling access to a casino expert maintenance system that provides repair instructions to repair said problem with said gaming unit.

29. A handheld maintenance module comprising:

a display unit capable of generating video images;

an optical transceiver device capable of optical data transmission and reception, said optical transceiver device adapted to be optically coupled to an optical transceiver of a maintenance controller, wherein said maintenance controller is programmed to facilitate communication between said optical transceiver device of said handheld maintenance module and said optical transceiver of said maintenance controller, and wherein said maintenance controller is programmed to allow a repair person to query said maintenance controller for a set of gaming unit diagnostic information via said optical transceiver;

a module controller operatively coupled to said display unit and said optical transceiver device, said module controller comprising a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor,

said module controller being programmed to allow a person to receive a gaming unit maintenance work order, said gaming unit maintenance work order representing a request for a repair of a gaming unit,

said module controller being programmed to cause a video image representing said gaming unit maintenance work order to be displayed on said display unit,

said module controller being programmed to cause a video image of one or more instructions to repair said gaming unit to be displayed,

said module controller being programmed to allow said gaming unit maintenance work order to be closed upon completion of said repair of said gaming unit, and

said module controller being programmed to forward repair data to said maintenance controller, said repair data representing repair information generated during said repair of said gaming unit.