Apparatus and method for copying gaming machine configuration settings
First Claim
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1. A method for copying configuration data from a first gaming machine to a second gaming machine, comprising:
- sensing the connection of an external device to said first gaming machine via an interface port;
automatically executing a copying routine to be performed at least within said first gaming machine upon sensing said connection of the external device;
determining by said automatically executed copy routine whether said external device is authorized to receive said configuration data from said first gaming machine when said external device is connected to said gaming machine;
copying at least a portion of said configuration data from said gaming machine to said external device if said external device is authorized to receive said configuration data;
connecting said external device to a second gaming machine via a second interface port;
determining by and within said external device whether said second gaming machine is authorized to receive said configuration data copied to said external device with authorization of said first gaming machine when said external device is connected to said second gaming device; and
copying said configuration data from said external device to said second gaming machine only if said second gaming device is authorized to receive said configuration data.
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Abstract
Disclosed is an apparatus and method for use in a casino gaming system where data concerning set-up configuration of gaming units may be copied from one gaming unit to another gaming unit. The data concerning gaming unit configuration may be copied via an external device, such as a smart storage device or a dumb storage device, copied directly between gaming units or copied via a network storage device of a network that interconnects gaming units.
134 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for copying configuration data from a first gaming machine to a second gaming machine, comprising:
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sensing the connection of an external device to said first gaming machine via an interface port; automatically executing a copying routine to be performed at least within said first gaming machine upon sensing said connection of the external device; determining by said automatically executed copy routine whether said external device is authorized to receive said configuration data from said first gaming machine when said external device is connected to said gaming machine; copying at least a portion of said configuration data from said gaming machine to said external device if said external device is authorized to receive said configuration data; connecting said external device to a second gaming machine via a second interface port; determining by and within said external device whether said second gaming machine is authorized to receive said configuration data copied to said external device with authorization of said first gaming machine when said external device is connected to said second gaming device; and copying said configuration data from said external device to said second gaming machine only if said second gaming device is authorized to receive said configuration data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for copying configuration data from a first gaming machine to a second gaming machine, comprising:
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connecting said second gaming machine to said first gaming machine via respective interface ports of said first and second gaming machines; detecting the connecting of ports and causing a copying routine to be performed at least within said first gaming machine without human input; determining by and within said first gaming machine without human input whether an external device connected to said first and second gaming machines is authorized to receive said configuration data; copying at least a portion of said configuration data to said external device if said external device is authorized to receive said configuration data; and copying said configuration data from said external device to said second gaming machine only after a determination is made by said external device that said second gaming device is authorized to receive said configuration data. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method for copying configuration data between a plurality of gaming apparatuses comprising:
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sensing the connection of a first gaming apparatus from said plurality of gaming apparatuses to an external device that is physically configured to store configuration data, said configuration data comprising data related to at least one of payout related settings, wager-related settings, volume settings, display settings, credit settings and value denomination settings; causing said configuration data to be copied from said first gaming apparatus to said external device only after a determination is made by said first gaming apparatus that said external device is authorized to receive said configuration data; connecting said external device to one or more other gaming apparatuses of said plurality of gaming apparatuses; automatically determining by and within said external device whether said one or more other gaming apparatuses of said plurality of gaming apparatuses are authorized to receive said configuration data when said configuration setting is copied from said first gaming apparatus with authorization of said first gaming apparatus; and copying said configuration data only to said one or more other gaming apparatuses of said plurality of gaming apparatuses that are authorized to receive said configuration data; wherein each of said plurality of gaming apparatuses is physically configured to allow a person to input a value and make a wager and to determine a value payout based on an outcome of a game executed by said gaming apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus comprising:
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a storage device configured to interface with a communication port of each of a first gaming machine and a second gaming machine, said storage device comprising; an interface; a controller, and a memory; wherein, said storage device senses, with the interface, a connecting of the device to the communication port of the first gaming machine; upon sensing said connecting of the device, the controller automatically copies configuration data from the first gaming machine to the memory, only when said first gaming machine determines that said device is authorized to receive said configuration data; said storage device senses, with the interface, a connecting of the device to the communication port of the second gaming machine; the controller determines, when said storage device is connected to said second gaming machine, whether said second gaming machine is authorized to receive said configuration data; and upon determining that said second gaming device is authorized to receive said configuration data, the controller copies said configuration data from the memory to said second gaming machine.
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Specification