Universal gaming engine
First Claim
1. A gaming machine adapted for accepting wagers and granting monetary awards, comprising:
- a master gaming controller adapted to control game play and authorize payouts and other awards on said gaming machine, said master gaming controller located in a main cabinet of said gaming machine, said main cabinet having a first communications interface having a first configuration or arrangement;
a top box that contains a plurality of peripheral devices and a second communications interface having a second configuration or arrangement, said top box adapted to be removable from said gaming machine and interchangeable with other top boxes also so adapted; and
a modular universal gaming engine located outside said main cabinet and said top box, said modular universal gaming engine having at least one dedicated processing unit, at least one associated storage device, a third communications interface adapted to connect with said first communications interface, and a fourth communications interface adapted to connect with said second communications interface, wherein said modular universal gaming engine is adapted to control a substantial portion of said plurality of peripheral devices contained by said top box, wherein said modular universal gaming engine is located substantially behind said main cabinet, said top box, or said main cabinet and said top box.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatuses and systems including a gaming machine having one or more major components that are removable and interchangeable with other similar major components for a gaming machine are disclosed. Such a gaming machine has at least a master gaming controller, one or more major components, and a universal gaming engine. At least one major component, such as a top box or main cabinet, contains a plurality of peripheral devices and a universal communication interface, is adapted to be removable from the gaming machine, and is interchangeable with other similar major components. The universal gaming engine contains at least one dedicated processing unit, such as a CPU, at least one associated storage device, and its own universal communication interface. This universal gaming engine is also adapted to control a substantial portion of the plurality of peripheral devices on the removable and interchangeable major component of the gaming machine.
47 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A gaming machine adapted for accepting wagers and granting monetary awards, comprising:
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a master gaming controller adapted to control game play and authorize payouts and other awards on said gaming machine, said master gaming controller located in a main cabinet of said gaming machine, said main cabinet having a first communications interface having a first configuration or arrangement; a top box that contains a plurality of peripheral devices and a second communications interface having a second configuration or arrangement, said top box adapted to be removable from said gaming machine and interchangeable with other top boxes also so adapted; and a modular universal gaming engine located outside said main cabinet and said top box, said modular universal gaming engine having at least one dedicated processing unit, at least one associated storage device, a third communications interface adapted to connect with said first communications interface, and a fourth communications interface adapted to connect with said second communications interface, wherein said modular universal gaming engine is adapted to control a substantial portion of said plurality of peripheral devices contained by said top box, wherein said modular universal gaming engine is located substantially behind said main cabinet, said top box, or said main cabinet and said top box. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A gaming machine adapted for accepting wagers and granting monetary awards, comprising:
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a processing means for controlling game play and authorizing payouts and other awards on said gaming machine, said processing means located in a main cabinet of said gaming machine and communicatively connected with a first communications interface located on said main cabinet, said first communications interface having a first configuration or arrangement; a housing means for housing a plurality of peripheral devices associated with said gaming machine and a second communications interface, said housing means being removable from said main cabinet and interchangeable with other similar housing means also so adapted, said plurality of peripheral devices communicatively connected with said second communications interface, and said second communications interface having a second configuration or arrangement; and a modular universal engine means for controlling a substantial portion of said plurality of peripheral devices housed by said housing means, said modular universal engine means located outside said main cabinet and said housing means, said modular universal engine means including a third communications interface and a fourth communications interface, said third communications interface adapted to connect with said first communications interface, and said fourth communications interface adapted to connect with said second communications interface, wherein said modular universal engine means are located substantially behind said main cabinet, said housing means, or said main cabinet and said housing means.
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21. A system of gaming machines adapted for accepting wagers and granting monetary awards, comprising:
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at least one computer server, said at least one computer server having a program adapted to provide data regarding individual modular universal gaming engines, top boxes of gaming machines, or both; and a plurality of gaming machines in communication with said at least one computer server, wherein at least one first gaming machine of said plurality of gaming machines comprises; a master gaming controller adapted to control game play and authorize payouts and other awards on said at least one first gaming machine, said master gaming controller located in a main cabinet of said at least one first gaming machine and communicatively connected with a first communications interface located on said main cabinet, said first communications interface having a first configuration or arrangement; a top box, wherein said top box contains a plurality of peripheral devices and a second communications interface, is adapted to be removable from said at least one first gaming machine, and is interchangeable with other top boxes also so adapted, wherein said plurality of peripheral devices are communicatively connected with said second communications interface, said second communications interface having a second configuration or arrangement; and a modular universal gaming engine located outside said main cabinet and said top box, said modular universal gaming engine having at least one dedicated processing unit, at least one associated storage device, a third communications interface, and a fourth communications interface, wherein said third communications interface is connected with said first communications interface, said fourth communications interface is connected with said second communications interface, and said modular universal gaming engine is adapted to control a substantial portion of said plurality of peripheral devices contained by said top box, wherein said top box is removable and interchangeable, and wherein said modular universal gaming engine is located substantially behind said main cabinet, said top box, or said main cabinet and said top box. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of replacing a top box of a gaming machine adapted for accepting wagers and granting monetary awards, the method comprising:
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providing said gaming machine having a master gaming controller adapted to control game play and authorize payouts and other awards on said gaming machine, said master gaming controller located in a main cabinet of said gaming machine and communicatively connected with a first communications interface located on said main cabinet, said first communications interface having a first configuration or arrangement, said top box that contains a plurality of peripheral devices and a second communications interface, said top box adapted to be removable from said gaming machine and interchangeable with other top boxes also so adapted, said second communications interface having a second configuration or arrangement, and a modular universal gaming engine located outside said main cabinet and said top box, said modular universal gaming engine having at least one dedicated processing unit, at least one associated storage device, a third communications interface, and a fourth communications interface, wherein said modular universal gaming engine is adapted to control a substantial portion of said plurality of peripheral devices on said top box, said third communications interface is connected with said first communications interface, and said fourth communications interface is connected with said second communications interface, wherein said modular universal gaming engine is located substantially behind said main cabinet, said top box, or said main cabinet and said top box; removing said top box from said gaming machine; and installing a second top box on said gaming machine. - View Dependent Claims (29)
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30. A method of changing a game theme on a gaming machine adapted for accepting wagers and granting monetary awards, said method comprising:
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providing said gaming machine having a master gaming controller adapted to control game play and authorize payouts and other awards on said gaming machine, said master gaming controller located in a main cabinet of said gaming machine and communicatively connected with a first communications interface located on said main cabinet, said first communications interface having a first configuration or arrangement, a top box that contains a plurality of peripheral devices and a second communications interface, said top box adapted to be removable from said gaming machine and interchangeable with other top boxes also so adapted, said second communications interface having a second configuration or arrangement, and a modular universal gaming engine located outside said main cabinet and said top box, said modular universal gaming engine having at least one dedicated processing unit, at least one associated storage device, a third communications interface, and a fourth communications interface, wherein said modular universal gaming engine is adapted to control a substantial portion of said plurality of peripheral devices on said top box, where said top box is removable and interchangeable, said third communications interface is adapted to connect with said first communications interface, and said fourth communications interface is adapted to connect with said second communications interface, wherein said modular universal gaming engine is located substantially behind said main cabinet, said top box, or said main cabinet and said top box; removing said top box from said gaming machine, said top box comprising one or more items dedicated toward a first game theme; and installing a second top box on said gaming machine, said second top box comprising one or more items dedicated toward a second game theme different from said first game theme.
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Specification