Modular gaming machine and security system

• US 8,057,302 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2006
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Mattice, Harold E., Griswold, Chauncey W., Wilder, Richard L., Wells, William R., Gadda, Christian E., Lew, Ricky
• Primary Examiner(s): Suhol; Dmitry
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, JEFFREY KEITH
• Application Number:
  US11/644,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20070155512A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,790 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29, 463/16, 463/20, 463/46
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements

Abstract

A modularized gaming machine operable to receive wagers on a play of a game of chance is described. The modularized gaming machine may include a base gaming module that can operate independently or can be coupled to additional gaming modules. In one embodiment, the base gaming module may include a security monitoring system operable to determine a security configuration including error conditions that depends on features of gaming modules coupled to the base gaming module. In another embodiment, the security monitoring system may be operable to monitor a fixed security configuration that is independent of the configuration of the modularized gaming machine. The fixed security configuration may anticipate input from security devices that are unconnected in a particular configuration of the modularized gaming machine. In these instances, a signal mechanism may provide information to the security monitoring system to ensure a non-error condition for unconnected security devices.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a base gaming module comprising;

a base gaming module housing;

a master gaming controller adapted for controlling a game of chance played on the gaming machine and for responding to error conditions;

one or more base gaming module security devices;

a power interface;

a first module communications interface configured for facilitating communications between the base gaming module and any of a plurality of different types of expansion modules,

wherein the plurality of different types of expansion modules are configured to be located outside of the base gaming module,

wherein the plurality of different types of expansion modules comprises a first type of expansion module and a second type of expansion module,

wherein the first type of expansion module is configured with one or more first expansion module security devices,

wherein the second type of expansion module is configured with one or more second expansion module security devices,

wherein each type of expansion module in the plurality of different types of expansion modules includes an expansion module communications interface configured to be communicatively connected with the first module communications interface, and

wherein the number, configuration, and types of the one or more first expansion module security devices in the first type of expansion module differ in at least one respect from the number, configuration, and types of the one or more second expansion module security devices in the second type of expansion module; and

a security system,

wherein the base gaming module is configured to determine whether the first type of expansion module is communicatively connected with the first module communications interface,

wherein the base gaming module is configured to determine whether the second type of expansion module is communicatively connected with the first module communications interface,

wherein the base gaming module determines a security configuration for the security system,

wherein the security configuration comprises information on the base gaming module security devices,

wherein, when the first type of expansion module is determined to be communicatively connected with the first module communications interface, the security configuration further comprises information regarding from which first expansion module security devices to anticipate security device monitoring information,

wherein, when the second type of expansion module is determined to be communicatively connected with the first module communications interface, the security configuration further comprises information regarding from which second expansion module security devices to anticipate security device monitoring information, and

wherein the security system is configured to determine whether the anticipated security device monitoring information is being received by the security system based on the determined security configuration, and

wherein the security system is configured to determine if the security device monitoring information indicates an error condition based on the determined security configuration.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the base gaming module further comprises an input device.

3. The gaming machine of claim 2, wherein the input device is a touch-screen display.

4. The gaming machine of claim 3, wherein the first type of expansion module is configured to physically connect with the base gaming module via the first module communications interface.

5. The gaming machine of claim 2, further comprising 1) an upper casing including a video display, 2) a lower casing including the input device, and 3) a mechanism operable to couple the upper casing to the lower casing.

6. The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the mechanism is operable to provide one or more degrees of freedom of movement of the upper casing relative to the lower casing.

7. The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein the mechanism is a hinge mechanism for allowing an angle between the upper casing and the lower casing to be altered.

8. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising at least one audio output device.

9. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising a card reader, wherein the card reader is operable to accept at least one of a smart card, a credit card, a debit card and a player tracking card.

10. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising a network interface operable to communicate with a remote gaming device.

11. The gaming machine of claim 10, wherein the base gaming module is operable to communicate with a remote server or another gaming machine via the network interface.

12. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising a mechanical interface for coupling the base gaming module to a surface, wherein the surface is located on one of a table, a pedestal, a wall, a counter top or a second gaming module.

13. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the first module communications interface and the power interface are combined into single integrated interface and configured such that a communications and power connection with the integrated interface may be established in a single action.

14. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising an access port wherein the one or more base gaming module security devices comprises a first security device operable to provide information to the security system indicating a status of the access port.

15. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising a lock, wherein the one or more base gaming module security devices comprises a first security device operable to provide information to the security system indicating a status of the lock.

16. The gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a first expansion module, the first expansion module corresponding with one of the types of expansion modules in the plurality of different types of expansion modules, wherein the first expansion comprises;

a wager input device;

a first expansion module communications interface configured to communicate with the first module communications interface on the base gaming module;

a first mechanical interface for coupling the first expansion module to the base gaming module;

a second mechanical interface for coupling the first expansion module to a first surface; and

at least one first expansion module security device operable to provide information to the security system in the base gaming module.

17. The gaming machine of claim 16, wherein the security system is operable to reconfigure the security configuration of the gaming machine, including error conditions, when the first expansion module is coupled to the base gaming module.

18. The gaming machine of claim 16, wherein the master gaming controller is operable to reconfigure tilt conditions for the gaming machine when the base gaming module is connected to the first expansion module.

19. The gaming machine of claim 16, wherein the wager input device is at least one of a card reader, a bill acceptor, a ticket reader, or a coin acceptor.

20. The gaming machine of claim 19, wherein the card reader is operable to accept at least one of a smart card, a credit card, a debit card, and a player tracking card.

21. The gaming machine of claim 16, further comprising a display coupled to the first expansion module.

22. The gaming machine of claim 16, wherein the first surface is located on a table, a counter top, a pedestal, a wall, a floor, or the outside of a second expansion module.

23. The gaming machine of claim 16, further comprising a value output device, wherein the value output device is at least one of a token dispenser, a printer, a card dispenser, a card-crediting device, or a device operable to alter an electromagnetic state stored on an instrument wherein the electromagnetic state is used to record a value on the instrument.

24. The gaming machine of claim 16, further comprising a power supply operable to provide power to the base gaming module via the power interface.

25. The gaming machine of claim 16, further comprising a network interface, wherein the master gaming controller is operable to communicate with a remote gaming device via the network interface.

26. The gaming machine of claim 16, further comprising a second expansion module wherein the second expansion module comprises:

the first surface;

a second expansion module communications interface for communicatively connecting second expansion module with the first expansion module and the base gaming module;

a third mechanical interface for mechanically coupling the second expansion module to the second gaming module;

at least one second expansion module security device operable to provide information to the security system.

27. The gaming machine of claim 26, further comprising an access port configured to facilitate access to an interior space of the second expansion module, wherein the at least one second expansion module security device is configured to provide information to the security system indicating a status of the access port.

28. The gaming machine of claim 26, further comprising a power supply wherein the at least one second expansion module security device is operable to provide information to the security system indicating a status of the power supply.

29. A method comprising:

providing a base gaming module for a modularized gaming machine, the base gaming module comprising;

a base gaming module housing,

one or more base gaming module security devices, and

a security system,

wherein the base gaming module is configured to be communicatively connected with one or more expansion modules selected from a plurality of different types of expansion modules,

wherein the plurality of different types of expansion modules comprises a first type of expansion module and a second type of expansion module,

wherein the first type of expansion module is configured with one or more first expansion module security devices,

wherein the second type of expansion module is configured with one or more second expansion module security devices,

wherein the number, configuration, and types of the one or more first expansion module security devices in the first type of expansion module differ in at least one respect from the number, configuration, and types of the one or more second expansion module security devices in the second type of expansion module,

wherein the base gaming module is configured to determine the number and type of expansion modules to which the base gaming module is communicatively connected,

wherein the base gaming module is configured to generate a security configuration for the security system,

wherein the security configuration comprises information on the base gaming module security devices,

wherein, when the first type of expansion module is determined to be communicatively connected with the base gaming module, the security configuration further comprises information regarding from which first expansion module security devices to anticipate security device monitoring information,

wherein, when the second type of expansion module is determined to be communicatively connected with the base gaming module, the security configuration further comprises information regarding from which second expansion module security devices to anticipate security device monitoring information,

wherein the security system is configured to determine whether the anticipated security device monitoring information is being received by the security system based on the determined security configuration, and

wherein the security system is configured to determine if the security device monitoring information indicates an error condition based on the determined security configuration;

determining the security configuration, of the modularized gaming machine wherein the security configuration includes comprises a list of security devices from which to anticipate information,

wherein the list is based on the determination of the number and type of expansion modules to which the base gaming module is communicatively connected, and

wherein the security devices are selected from group comprising the base gaming module security devices and the expansion module security devices;

configuring error conditions of the modularized gaming machine according to the determined security configuration of the modularized gaming machine; and

determining whether the error conditions have occurred using the anticipated information from security devices in the determined security configuration.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

detecting which expansion modules are communicatively connected with the base gaming module; and

re-determining the security configuration for the modularized gaming machine when the detecting indicates that the number and type of expansion modules communicatively connected with the base gaming module has changed.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising determining whether each of the security devices in the determined security configuration from which to anticipate information is communicatively coupled to the security system.

32. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

determining that an error condition has occurred; and

generating a tilt condition in the modularized gaming machine.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising disabling the game play on the modularized gaming machine in response to the tilt condition.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein a first base gaming module security device of the one or more base gaming module security devices is operable to monitor a status of an access port of the base gaming module.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein a first base gaming module security device of the one or more base gaming module security devices is operable to monitor a status of a lock of the base gaming module.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein a first base gaming module security device of the one or more base gaming module security devices is operable to monitor a status of a power supply.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein a first base gaming module security device of the one or more base gaming module security devices is operable to monitor a status of a peripheral device coupled to the modularized gaming machine.