Method and apparatus for modifying gaming machines to provide supplemental or modified functionality

• US 8,133,102 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Issued: 03/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Western Gaming Properties
• Original Assignee: Stanley P. Dabrowski
• Inventors: Dabrowski, Stanley P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US12/258,203
• Publication Number:
  US 20090054135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 463/1, 463/16, 463/17, 463/25, 463/26, 463/29, 463/42, 463/43, 273/121.B, 273/138, 273/138.1, 273/139, 273/143.R
• US Class Current: 463/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/2455 Printers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2009/247 audible, e.g. using a loudspeaker
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/18 involving self-service terminals [SST], vending machines, kiosks or multimedia terminals
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3209 Input means, e.g. buttons, touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3211 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3246 involving coins and/or banknotes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3248 involving non-monetary media of fixed value, e.g. casino chips of fixed value
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3281 wherein game attributes are transferred between players, e.g. points, weapons, avatars
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/42 for ticket printing or like apparatus , e.g. apparatus for dispensing of printed paper tickets or payment cards
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 5/24 with change-giving

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for transferring credits from one gaming device to another via the use of coded scrip is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of accepting a cash-out command in the gaming device, scanning a magnetically manifested code uniquely identifying a scrip stored in the gaming device, transmitting a cash-out message comprising the code to a remote processor having access to a database configured to store and retrieve codes from a plurality of gaming devices, receiving a scrip dispense message from the remote processor, and dispensing the scrip. The apparatus comprises a scrip storage unit, a scrip dispensing unit having a scrip transducer for reading and recording a magnetically manifested code on a scrip retrieved from the scrip storage unit, and a processor, communicatively coupled to the scrip transducer and a remote computer having access to a database for storing and retrieving code information from the plurality of gaming devices.

Claims

1. An apparatus for modifying the functionality of a legacy gaming device having a legacy gaming device processor, comprising:

a display device for providing game play information to a user;

a second processor, communicatively coupled to the display device via an interrupted legacy communication path interrupting a legacy display device signal, the interrupted legacy communication path disposed between the display device and the legacy gaming device processor, the second processor performing instructions for generating a substitute signal to provide the modified functionality of the legacy gaming device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an input device for accepting user input; and

wherein the second processor is communicatively coupled to the input device via a second interrupted legacy communications path interrupting an input device signal, the second interrupted legacy communications path disposed between the input device and the legacy gaming device processor, the second processor performing instructions for generating a second substitute signal to further provide the modified functionality of the legacy gaming device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the display device comprises a touch screen accepting user input.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the legacy communication path is interrupted by a signal interrupting and substitution device communicatively coupled to the second processor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising an interface module, communicatively coupled between the signal interrupting and substitution device and the second processor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substitute signal is generated without the interrupted legacy display device signal.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substitute signal is generated at least in part from the interrupted legacy display device signal.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substitute signal is generated from the interrupted legacy display device signal and from an external signal from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the legacy gaming device further comprises an audio device, wherein the second processor is communicatively coupled to the audio device via a second interrupted legacy communication path disposed between the audio device and the legacy gaming device processor, and wherein the second processor performs instructions for generating an audio substitute signal to further provide the modified functionality of the legacy gaming device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the legacy gaming device further comprises an audio device, wherein the second processor is communicatively coupled to the audio device via the interrupted legacy communications path and the legacy gaming device processor, and wherein the second processor performs instructions for generating an audio substitute signal to further provide the modified functionality of the legacy gaming device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the audio device includes a microphone.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substitute signal is obtained from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modified functionality is reprogrammed by a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second processor receives commands for generating the substitute signal from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

112. The method of claim 11, wherein the audio device includes a microphone.

15. An apparatus for modifying the functionality of a legacy gaming device having a legacy I/O device communicating legacy I/O device signals with a legacy gaming device processor via a legacy communication path, comprising:

a signal interrupting and substitution device, coupled to the legacy communication path to interrupt the legacy I/O device signals and to provide substitute signals therefor; and

a second processor, coupled to the signal interrupting and substitution device, the second processor performing instructions for generating the substitute signals to provide the modified functionality.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the instructions for generating the substitute signals to provide the modified functionality comprise:

instructions for receiving the interrupted I/O signals, for modifying the interrupted I/O signals to generate the substitute I/O device signals, and for providing the substitute I/O signals to the signal interrupting and substitution device.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the substitute signals are generated without the interrupted I/O device legacy signals.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the substitute signals are generated at least in part from the interrupted I/O device legacy signals.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the substitute signals are generated from the interrupted I/O device legacy signals and an external signal from a server remote from the gaming device.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the substitute signals are obtained from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the modified functionality is reprogrammed by a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second processor receives commands for generating the substitute signals from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the legacy I/O device comprises a display device.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the legacy I/O device signals include game play parameters displayed by the display device.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the display device comprises a touch screen, and the legacy I/O signals include user input.

26. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the legacy I/O device comprises an audio device;

the second processor is communicatively coupled to the audio device via the interrupted legacy communication path disposed between the audio device and the legacy gaming device processor; and

wherein the second processor performs instructions for generating an audio substitute signal to provide the modified functionality of the legacy gaming device.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the audio device includes a microphone.

28. An apparatus for modifying the functionality of a legacy gaming device having a legacy gaming device processor, comprising:

a plurality of legacy I/O devices for providing gaming information to a user and for accepting user input; and

a second processor, communicatively coupled to the plurality of I/O devices via at least one interrupted legacy communication path between the legacy I/O devices and the legacy gaming device processor, the second processor for accepting input from the legacy I/O devices via the at least one interrupted legacy communication path, processing the accepted input, and providing output generated at least in part from the accepted input to the legacy I/O devices.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one legacy communication path is interrupted by at least one signal interrupting and substitution device communicatively coupled to the second processor.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising an interface module, communicatively coupled between the signal interrupting and substitution device and the second processor.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein:

the input from the legacy I/O devices comprises legacy I/O device signals, and the output to the legacy I/O device comprises substitute signals.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the substitute signals comprise modified legacy display device signals providing the modified functionality.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the substitute signals are generated without the interrupted I/O device legacy signal.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the substitute signals are generated at least in part from the accepted input.

35. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the substitute signals are generated from the accepted input and from an external signal from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

36. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the at least one of the legacy I/O devices comprises a display device, and the legacy I/O device signals include game play parameters displayed on the display device.

37. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the display device comprises a touch screen for accepting the input.

38. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the plurality of legacy I/O devices comprises an audio device.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the audio device includes a microphone.

40. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the substitute signal is obtained from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

41. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the second processor is reprogrammed by a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

42. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the second processor receives commands for generating the substitute signal from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

43. An apparatus for modifying the functionality of a legacy gaming device having a legacy gaming device processor, comprising:

a plurality of legacy I/O devices for providing gaming information to a user and for accepting user input; and

means for accepting input from the legacy I/O devices via at least one interrupted legacy communication path between the legacy I/O devices and the legacy gaming device processor, for processing the accepted input, and for providing output generated at least in part from the accepted input to the legacy I/O devices.

44. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the at least one legacy communication path is interrupted by at least one means for interrupting the legacy I/O device signals and providing substitute signals therefor, the means for interrupting the legacy I/O device signals and providing substitute signals communicatively coupled to the means for accepting input from the legacy I/O devices.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, further comprising an interface module, communicatively coupled between the means for interrupting the legacy I/O device signals and providing substitute signals, and the means for accepting input from the legacy I/O devices.

46. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein:

the input from the legacy I/O devices comprises legacy I/O device signals, and the output to the legacy I/O device comprises substitute signals.

47. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the substitute signals comprise modified legacy display device signals providing the modified functionality.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the substitute signals are generated without the interrupted I/O device legacy signal.

49. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the substitute signals are generated at least in part from the accepted input.

50. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the substitute signals are generated from the accepted input and from an external signal from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

51. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein at least one of the legacy I/O devices comprises a display device, and the legacy I/O device signals include game play parameters displayed on the display device.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the display device comprises a touch screen, and the legacy I/O signals include user input.

53. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein:

the plurality of legacy I/O devices comprises an audio device;

the means for processing the accepted input and providing output is communicatively coupled to the audio device via a second interrupted legacy communication path disposed between the audio device and the legacy gaming device processor; and

wherein the means for processing the accepted input and providing output performs instructions for generating an audio substitute signal to provide the modified functionality of the legacy gaming device.

54. The apparatus of claim 53, wherein the audio device includes a microphone.

55. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the output is obtained from a server remote from the gaming device.

56. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the means for processing the accepted input and providing the output is reprogrammed by a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

57. The apparatus of claim 43, wherein the means for processing the accepted input and providing the output receives commands for generating the substitute signal from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

58. An apparatus for modifying the functionality of a legacy gaming device having a legacy gaming device processor, comprising:

a plurality of legacy I/O devices for providing gaming information to a user and for accepting user input; and

a second processor, communicatively coupled to the plurality of I/O devices via at least one interrupted legacy communication path interrupting legacy I/O device signals, the at least one interrupted legacy communication path being between the legacy I/O devices and the legacy gaming device processor, the second processor performing instructions for generating a substitute signal to provide the modified functionality.

59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the instructions for generating a substitute signal comprise instructions for:

accepting input from at least one of the legacy I/O devices via the at least one interrupted legacy communication path, and

processing the accepted input; and

providing output generated at least in part from the accepted input to the at least one of the legacy I/O devices.

60. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein:

the input from the at least one of the legacy I/O devices comprises legacy I/O device signals, and the output to the legacy I/O device comprises the substitute signal.

61. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the at least one interrupted legacy communication path is interrupted by at least one signal interrupting and substitution device communicatively coupled to the second processor.

62. The apparatus of claim 61, further comprising an interface module, communicatively coupled between the signal interrupting and substitution device and the second processor.

63. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the substitute signal is generated without the interrupted legacy I/O device signals.

64. The apparatus of claim 59, wherein the substitute signal is generated at least in part from the accepted input.

65. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the substitute signal is generated from the accepted input and from an external signal from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

66. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein at least one of the legacy I/O devices comprises a display device, the at least one interrupted legacy communication path is a legacy display device communication path, and the legacy interrupted I/O device signals include game play parameters for display by the display device.

67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the display device comprises a touch screen, and the legacy I/O device signals include user input.

68. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein

the plurality of legacy I/O devices comprises an audio device;

the second processor is communicatively coupled to the audio device via a second interrupted legacy communication path disposed between the audio device and the legacy gaming device processor; and

wherein the second processor performs instructions for generating an audio substitute signal to provide the modified functionality of the legacy gaming device.

69. The apparatus of claim 68, wherein the audio device includes a microphone.

70. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the substitute signal is obtained from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

71. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the modified functionality is reprogrammed by a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

72. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the second processor receives commands for generating the substitute signal from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

73. A method of modifying a function of a gaming device having a plurality of legacy input/output (I/O) devices communicating I/O device signals with a legacy gaming device processor via a plurality of legacy communication paths, comprising the steps of:

interrupting, with a signal interrupting and substitution device, at least one of the I/O device signals communicated on at least one of the legacy communication paths;

generating, with a second processor, a substitute I/O device signal, the substitute I/O device signal providing the modified function; and

providing the substitute I/O device signal from the second processor to the signal interrupting and substitution device on the at least one of the legacy communication paths.

74. The method of claim 73, wherein the at least one of the substitute I/O device signals comprises a modified legacy display device signal.

75. The method of claim 73, wherein the interrupted at least one of the I/O device signals comprises an interrupted display device signal.

76. The method of claim 75, wherein the plurality of legacy I/O devices comprises a display and the interrupted display device signal includes game play parameters for display by the display device.

77. The method of claim 75, wherein the plurality of legacy I/O devices comprises a display device comprising a touch screen, and the interrupted at least one of the I/O device signals includes user input.

78. The method of claim 73, wherein the at least one of the plurality of legacy I/O devices comprises an audio device for providing audio information to a user, and wherein the second processor is communicatively coupled to the audio device via the at least one of the interrupted legacy communication paths, and wherein the second processor performs instructions for generating an audio substitute signal to provide the modified function of the legacy gaming device.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein the audio device includes a microphone.

80. The method of claim 73, wherein the substitute I/O device signal is generated without the interrupted at least one of the I/O device legacy signals.

81. The method of claim 73, wherein the substitute I/O device signal is generated at least in part from the interrupted at least one of the I/O device signals.

82. The method of claim 73, wherein the substitute I/O device signal is generated from the interrupted at least one of the I/O device signals and an external signal from a server remote from the gaming device.

83. The method of claim 73, wherein the substitute I/O device signal is obtained from a server remote from the gaming device.

84. The method of claim 73, further comprising the step of reprogramming the modified function via a server remote from the gaming device.

85. The method of claim 73, wherein the step of generating a substitute I/O device signal comprises the steps of:

receiving commands for generating the substitute I/O device signal from a server remote from the gaming device; and

generating the substitute I/O device signal at least in part from the received commands.

86. The method of claim 73, further comprising the steps of:

modifying at least one of the legacy communication paths to monitor at least one of the I/O device signals; and

providing the monitored I/O device signals to a remote processor external to the gaming device.

87. An apparatus for modifying the functionality of a legacy gaming device having a legacy I/O device communicating legacy I/O device signals with a legacy gaming device processor via a legacy communication path, comprising:

a means for interrupting the legacy I/O device signals and providing substitute signals therefor, the interrupting means coupled to the legacy communication path;

a means for generating a substitute signals for the legacy I/O device signals to provide the modified functionality, the means for generating the substitute signals coupled to the signal interrupting and substitution means.

88. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the substitute signals comprise modified legacy display device signals to provide the modified functionality.

89. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the substitute signals are generated without the interrupted legacy I/O device signals.

90. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the substitute signals are generated at least in part from the interrupted legacy I/O device signals.

91. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the substitute signals are generated from the interrupted I/O device legacy signals and an external signal from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

92. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the substitute signal is obtained from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

93. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the modified functionality is reprogrammed by a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

94. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the means for generating the substitute signals receives commands for generating the substitute signal from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

95. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein the legacy I/O device comprises a display device.

96. The apparatus of claim 95, wherein the legacy I/O device signals include game play parameters displayed on the display device.

97. The apparatus of claim 95, wherein the display device comprises a touch screen, and the legacy I/O signals include user input.

98. The apparatus of claim 87, wherein:

the legacy I/O device comprises an audio device;

the means for generating substitute signals is communicatively coupled to the audio device via an interrupted second legacy communication path disposed between the audio device and the legacy gaming device processor; and

wherein the means for generating substitute signals performs instructions for generating an audio substitute signal to provide the modified functionality of the legacy gaming device.

99. The apparatus of claim 98, wherein the audio device includes a microphone.

100. A method for modifying the functionality of a legacy gaming device having a legacy I/O device communicating legacy I/O device signals with a legacy gaming device processor via a legacy communication path, comprising:

interrupting the legacy I/O device signals with a signal interrupting and substitution device coupled to the legacy communication path;

generating, via a second processor communicatively coupled to the signal interrupting and substitution device, substitute signals for the legacy I/O device signals to provide the modified functionality.

101. The method of claim 100, wherein the substitute signals comprise modified legacy display device signals to provide the modified functionality.

102. The method of claim 100, wherein the substitute signal is generated without the interrupted I/O device legacy signals.

103. The method of claim 100, wherein the substitute signals are generated at least in part from the interrupted I/O device legacy signal.

104. The method of claim 100, wherein the substitute signals are generated from the interrupted legacy I/O device signals and an external signal from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

105. The method of claim 100, wherein the substitute signals are obtained from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

106. The method of claim 100, wherein the modified functionality is reprogrammed by a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

107. The method of claim 100, wherein the means for generating the substitute signals receives commands for generating the substitute signals from a server remote from the legacy gaming device.

108. The method of claim 100, wherein the legacy I/O device comprises a display device.

109. The method of claim 108, wherein the legacy I/O device signals include game play parameters displayed on the display device.

110. The method of claim 108, wherein the display device comprises a touch screen, and the legacy I/O signals include user input.

111. The method of claim 100, wherein:

the legacy I/O devices comprises an audio device;

the step of generating the substitute signals further comprises the step of generating audio substitute signals to provide the modified functionality of the legacy gaming device.