Modular gaming machine and security system

• US 8,231,463 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2011
• Issued: 07/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wells, William R., Griswold, Chauncey W., Lew, Ricky, Gadda, Christian E., Wilder, Richard L., Mattice, Harold E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Peter DungBa
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, JEFFREY KEITH
• Application Number:
  US13/251,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20120021824A1
• Time in Patent Office: 302 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 base module for a modular gaming machine, the base module comprising:

an outer housing;

a master gaming controller contained within the outer housing, the master gaming controller including a security system;

a first mechanical interface, the first mechanical interface configured to connect an first expansion module to the outer housing; and

one or more first signal paths configured to communicatively connect the master gaming controller with a first logic device in the first expansion module when the first expansion module is connected with the outer housing via the first mechanical interface, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to;

determine that the first expansion module has been communicatively connected with the gaming controller via the one or more first signal paths,

interrogate, via the one or more first signal paths, the first logic device in the first expansion module to determine at least a portion of the security configuration of the first expansion module,

receive, responsive to the interrogation of the first logic device and from the first logic device, first security configuration information from the first expansion module via the one or more first signal paths, and

configure the security system to account for the security configuration of the first expansion module based on the received first security configuration information.

2. The base module of claim 1, the base module further comprising:

a second mechanical interface, the second mechanical interface configured to connect a second expansion module to the outer housing; and

one or more second signal paths configured to communicatively connect the master gaming controller with a second logic device in the second expansion module when the second expansion module is connected with the outer housing via the second mechanical interface, wherein the master gaming controller is further configured to;

determine that the second expansion module has been communicatively connected with the gaming controller via the one or more second signal paths,

interrogate, via the one or more second signal paths, the second logic device in the second expansion module to determine at least a portion of the security configuration of the second expansion module,

receive, responsive to the interrogation of the second logic device and from the second logic device, second security configuration information from the second expansion module via the one or more second signal paths, and

configure the security system to account for the security configuration of the second expansion module based on the received second security configuration information.

3. The base module of claim 1, wherein:

the first logic device is associated with a first peripheral of the first expansion module; and

the master gaming controller is further configured to;

interrogate, via the one or more first signal paths, one or more additional first logic devices in the first expansion module to determine further portions of the security configuration of the first expansion module, each additional first logic device associated with a different peripheral of the first expansion module,

receive, responsive to the interrogation of the one or more additional first logic devices and from the one or more additional first logic devices, additional first security configuration information from the first expansion module via the one or more first signal paths, and

further configure the security system to further account for the security configuration of the first expansion module based on the received first security configuration information.

4. The base module of claim 1, wherein the first security configuration information includes:

information indicating security devices included in the first expansion module; and

potential error conditions associated with the security devices included in the first expansion module.

5. The base module of claim 1, the base module further comprising:

a storage device, the storage device storing a database including a record associating identification information for the first expansion module with;

information indicating security devices included in the first expansion module; and

potential error conditions associated with the security devices included in the first expansion module, wherein;

the first security configuration information includes the identification information for the first expansion module, and

the master gaming controller is further configured to retrieve the information indicating the security devices included in the first expansion module and the potential error conditions associated with the security devices included in the first expansion module from the database.

6. The base module of claim 1, wherein the master gaming controller is further configured to verify the authenticity of the first expansion module.

7. The base module of claim 6, wherein the master gaming controller verifies the authenticity of the first expansion module using public-private encryption key pairs.

8. A modular gaming machine, the modular gaming machine comprising:

a base module including;

an outer housing,

a master gaming controller contained within the outer housing, the master gaming controller including a security system,

a first mechanical interface, the first mechanical interface configured to connect an first expansion module to the outer housing, and

one or more first signal paths configured to communicatively connect the master gaming controller with a first logic device in the first expansion module when the first expansion module is connected with the outer housing via the first mechanical interface, wherein the master gaming controller is configured to;

determine that the first expansion module has been communicatively connected with the gaming controller via the one or more first signal paths,

interrogate, via the one or more first signal paths, the first logic device in the first expansion module to determine at least a portion of the security configuration of the first expansion module,

receive, responsive to the interrogation of the first logic device and from the first logic device, first security configuration information from the first expansion module via the one or more first signal paths, and

configure the security system to account for the security configuration of the first expansion module based on the received first security configuration information; and

the first expansion module, the first expansion module including the first logic device.

9. The modular gaming machine of claim 8, the base module further comprising:

a second mechanical interface, the second mechanical interface configured to connect a second expansion module to the outer housing; and

one or more second signal paths configured to communicatively connect the master gaming controller with a second logic device in the second expansion module when the second expansion module is connected with the outer housing via the second mechanical interface, wherein the master gaming controller is further configured to;

determine that the second expansion module has been communicatively connected with the gaming controller via the one or more second signal paths,

interrogate, via the one or more second signal paths, the second logic device in the second expansion module to determine at least a portion of the security configuration of the second expansion module,

receive, responsive to the interrogation of the second logic device and from the second logic device, second security configuration information from the second expansion module via the one or more second signal paths, and

configure the security system to account for the security configuration of the second expansion module based on the received second security configuration information.

10. The modular gaming machine of claim 9, further comprising the second expansion module, the second expansion module including the second logic device.

11. The modular gaming machine of claim 8, wherein:

the first logic device is associated with a first peripheral of the first expansion module; and

the master gaming controller is further configured to;

interrogate, via the one or more first signal paths, one or more additional first logic devices in the first expansion module to determine further portions of the security configuration of the first expansion module, each additional first logic device associated with a different peripheral of the first expansion module,

receive, responsive to the interrogation of the one or more additional first logic devices and from the one or more additional first logic devices, additional first security configuration information from the first expansion module via the one or more first signal paths, and

further configure the security system to further account for the security configuration of the first expansion module based on the received first security configuration information.

12. The modular gaming machine of claim 8, wherein the first security configuration information includes:

information indicating security devices included in the first expansion module; and

potential error conditions associated with the security devices included in the first expansion module.

13. The modular gaming machine of claim 8, the base module further comprising:

a storage device, the storage device storing a database including a record associating identification information for the first expansion module with;

information indicating security devices included in the first expansion module; and

potential error conditions associated with the security devices included in the first expansion module, wherein;

the first security configuration information includes the identification information for the first expansion module, and

the master gaming controller is further configured to retrieve the information indicating the security devices included in the first expansion module and the potential error conditions associated with the security devices included in the first expansion module from the database.

14. The modular gaming machine of claim 8, wherein the master gaming controller is further configured to verify the authenticity of the first expansion module.

15. The modular gaming machine of claim 14, wherein the master gaming controller verifies the authenticity of the first expansion module using public-private encryption key pairs.

16. A method of configuring a modular gaming machine, the method comprising:

connecting a first expansion module with a first mechanical interface of the modular gaming machine, the modular gaming machine including a master gaming controller and one or more first signal paths configured to communicatively connect the master gaming controller with a first logic device in the first expansion module when the first expansion module is connected with the first mechanical interface;

determining that the first expansion module has been communicatively connected with the gaming controller via the one or more first signal paths;

interrogating, via the one or more first signal paths, the first logic device in the first expansion module to determine at least a portion of the security configuration of the first expansion module;

receiving, responsive to the interrogation of the first logic device and from the first logic device, first security configuration information from the first expansion module via the one or more first signal paths; and

configuring the security system to account for the security configuration of the first expansion module based on the received first security configuration information.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

connecting a second expansion module with a second mechanical interface of the modular gaming machine, the modular gaming machine further including one or more second signal paths configured to communicatively connect the master gaming controller with a second logic device in the second expansion module when the second expansion module is connected with the second mechanical interface;

determining that the second expansion module has been communicatively connected with the gaming controller via the one or more second signal paths;

interrogating, via the one or more second signal paths, the second logic device in the second expansion module to determine at least a portion of the security configuration of the second expansion module;

receiving, responsive to the interrogation of the second logic device and from the second logic device, second security configuration information from the second expansion module via the one or more second signal paths; and

configuring the security system to account for the security configuration of the second expansion module based on the received second security configuration information.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

interrogating, via the one or more first signal paths, one or more additional first logic devices in the first expansion module to determine further portions of the security configuration of the first expansion module, each additional first logic device associated with a different peripheral of the first expansion module;

receiving, responsive to the interrogation of the one or more additional first logic devices and from the one or more additional first logic devices, additional first security configuration information from the first expansion module via the one or more first signal paths; and

configuring the security system to further account for the security configuration of the first expansion module based on the received first security configuration information.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the first security configuration information includes:

information indicating security devices included in the first expansion module; and

potential error conditions associated with the security devices included in the first expansion module.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

storing, in a database accessible to the master gaming controller;

information indicating security devices included in the first expansion module, and

potential error conditions associated with the security devices included in the first expansion module, wherein;

the first security configuration information includes the identification information for the first expansion module, and

the master gaming controller is further configured to retrieve the information indicating the security devices included in the first expansion module and the potential error conditions associated with the security devices included in the first expansion module from the database.