Device health monitoring for gaming machines

• US 8,336,697 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2010
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: LEAP Forward Gaming
• Inventors: Wells, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHAPIRO, JEFFREY ALAN
• Application Number:
  US12/943,798
• Publication Number:
  US 20110195788A1
• Time in Patent Office: 776 Days
• Field of Search: 194/200, 194/202, 706/912, 706/916, 463/29, 463/25
• US Class Current: 194/202
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 11/00 Game accessories of general use , e.g. score counters, boxes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• 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 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• 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 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/001 Interfacing with vending machines using mobile or wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/009 User recognition or proximity detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/026 for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty

Abstract

A gaming peripheral for a gaming machine is described. The gaming peripheral can be configured to emulate the functions of a lighting device, such as a candle. The gaming peripheral can be configured to provide enhanced gaming features such as 1) enhanced networking capabilities, 2) enhanced peripheral device monitoring and upgrade capabilities, 3) enhanced player monitoring and security capabilities 4) enhanced gaming function capabilities and 5) enhanced player reward capabilities. The enhanced gaming features can be provided in a non-intrusive manner such that regulated software executed on a gaming machine does not have to be altered.

Claims

1. A method in a retrofit gaming device having 1) a controller including a processor and a memory, and 2) a wireless interface, said retrofit gaming device retrofitted to an existing wager-based gaming machine having a video display, a game controller communicatively coupled to a value input device and a value output device wherein after a retrofit of the game controller, the retrofit of gaming device, the value input device and the value output device are disposed within an existing gaming machine cabinet, comprising:

receiving, by the processor via a first communication pathway added during the retrofit that is between the retrofit gaming device and the value input device or the value output device within the existing gaming machine cabinet, sensor information on at least a transaction by transaction basis from the value input device or the value output device wherein the value input device or the value output device each include one or more sensors;

receiving, in the processor via a second communication pathway added during the retrofit that is between the retrofit gaming device and the game controller within the existing gaming machine cabinet, information associated with a play of a wager-based game from the game controller wherein the game controller is configured to control a play of a wager-based game played on the existing gaming machine and wherein functions of the retrofit gaming device including communicating with the value input device or the value output device via the first communication pathway or communicating with the game controller via the second communication pathway do not require modification to any existing game software executed by the game controller prior to the retrofit of the existing gaming machine;

receiving, in the processor, image data from a camera wherein the camera is for capturing an image of a user'"'"'s face when the user is at the existing gaming machine;

generating, in the processor, a transaction record including the image data received from the camera and the sensor information received from the value input device or the value output device in response to a value input or a value output transaction such that the image of the user'"'"'s face performing the transaction is captured;

storing, by the processor, the transaction record including the image data and the sensor information associated with the transaction, to the memory;

based upon the sensor information from one or more of the transactions, determining an error pattern indicating the value input device or the value output device is operating sub-optimally;

sending, via the wireless interface on the retrofit gaming device one or more of

     1) the transaction record including the image data and sensor information associated with the transaction,

     2) the information associated with the play of the wager-based game or

     3) information associated with the error pattern to a remote device;

displaying transaction data and the image data associated with a first transaction via a third communication pathway added during the retrofit between the retrofit gaming device and the video display; and

wherein the retrofit gaming device is retrofitted to the value input device and the value output device and configured to receive information from the value input device via the first communication pathway and receive information from the value output device via a fourth communication pathway added during the retrofit that is between the retrofit gaming device and the value output device.

2. The method of claim 1, determining, in the processor, whether at least one correction related to the error pattern is available;

when at least one correction is available, generating and sending a correction message to the value input device or the value output device, said correction message including commands, data or combinations thereof for implementing the correction on the value input device or the value output device;

otherwise, when at least one correction is not available,

generating and sending a maintenance message requesting at least one maintenance operation to be performed on the value input device or the value output device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving sensor information from the value input device or the value output device between transactions wherein the sensor information received between transactions is used to identify the error pattern.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensor information is used to assess a performance of a motor in the value input device or the value output device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors is a temperature sensor or a voltage sensor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors is a camera within the value input device or the value output device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the value input device is one of a bill acceptor, a card reader or a wireless interface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the value output device is one of a printer, a coin hopper or a wireless interface.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

when a plurality of corrections are available, determining an order in which to implement each of the plurality of corrections.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

implementing a first correction to correct the error pattern, determining the first correction did not improve an operational performance of the value input device or the value output device and implementing a second correction to correct the error pattern.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

downloading new software for the value input device or the value output device via the first communication pathway added during the retrofit.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the download of new software is configured to adjust an acceptable range of values associated with a sensor to improve an operational performance of the value input device or the value output device.

13. A method in a retrofit gaming device having a controller including 1) a processor and a memory and 2) a wireless interface said retrofit gaming device retrofitted to an existing wager-based gaming machine having a video display, a game controller communicatively coupled to a bill acceptor, configured to accept bills or instruments of value, and a value output device via existing communication connections wherein after a retrofit the game controller, the retrofit gaming device, the value output device and the bill acceptor are disposed within an existing gaming machine cabinet comprising:

receiving, in the processor via a first communication pathway between the retrofit gaming device and the bill acceptor added during the retrofit, sensor information on at least a transaction by transaction basis from a bill acceptor wherein the bill acceptor includes one or more sensors;

receiving, in the processor via a second communication pathway between the bill acceptor and the retrofit gaming device added during the retrofit, information associated with the play of a wager-based game from the game controller and is configured to control a play of the wager-based game played on the existing gaming machine wherein functions of the retrofit gaming device including communicating with the bill acceptor via the first communication pathway or communicating with the game controller via the second communication pathway does not require modification to any existing game software executed by the game controller prior to the retrofit of the existing gaming machine;

receiving, in the processor, image data from a camera wherein the camera is for capturing an image of a user'"'"'s face when the user is at the gaming machine;

generating, in the processor, a transaction record including the image data received from the camera and the sensor information received from the value input device or the value output device in response to a value input or a value output transaction such that the image of the user'"'"'s face performing the transaction is captured;

storing by the processor the transaction record including the image data and the sensor information associated with the transaction to the memory;

based upon the sensor information from one or more transactions, identifying an error pattern indicating the bill acceptor is operating sub-optimally;

sending, via the wireless interface on the retrofit gaming device one or more of

     1) the transaction record including the image data and sensor information associated with the transaction,

     2) the information associated with the play of the wager-based game or

     3) information associated with the error pattern to a remote device;

displaying transaction data and the image data associated with a first transaction via a third communication pathway added during the retrofit between the retrofit gaming device and the video display; and

wherein the retrofit gaming device is retrofitted to the bill acceptor and the value output device and configured to receive information from the bill acceptor via the first communication pathway and receive information from the value output device via a fourth communication pathway added during the retrofit that is between the retrofit gaming device and the value output device.

14. The method of claim 13,

determining whether at least one correction to the error pattern is available;

when at least one correction is available, generating and sending a correction message to the bill acceptor, said correction message including commands, data or combinations thereof for implementing the correction on the bill acceptor;

otherwise,

when at least one correction is not available, generating and sending a maintenance message requesting maintenance operation to be performed on the bill acceptor.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the error pattern is based upon a determination of a number of bills or instruments of value accepted and a number of bills or instruments of value rejected over a time period.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the instruments of value are printed tickets.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

determining the genuineness of a bill accepted by the bill acceptor and downloading via the wireless interface new software or firmware for the bill acceptor that allows the bill acceptor to detect other instruments of value and determine their genuineness, and sending the new software or firmware to the bill acceptor via the first communication path added during the retrofit.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more sensors is a camera and wherein the gaming device is configured to receive the sensor information as image data from instruments of value inserted in the bill acceptor.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the instrument of value is a printed ticket further comprising accessing a print quality of the printed ticket based upon the image data.

20. A method in a retrofit gaming device having a controller including 1) a processor and a memory and) a wireless interface said retrofit gaming device retrofitted to an existing wager-based gaming machine having a video display, a game controller communicatively coupled to a printer and a value input device via existing communication connections wherein after a retrofit the game controller, the retrofit gaming device, the value input device and the printer are disposed within an existing gaming machine cabinet comprising:

receiving by the processor via a first communication pathway between the retrofit gaming device and the printer added during the retrofit sensor information on at least a transaction by transaction basis from a printer wherein the printer includes one or more sensors

receiving, in the processor via a second communication pathway between the printer and the retrofit gaming device added during the retrofit, information associated with a play of a wager-based game from the game controller is configured to control a play of wager-based game played on the existing gaming machine wherein functions of retrofit gaming device including communicating with the bill acceptor via the first communication pathway or communicating with the game controller via the second communication pathway do not require modification to any existing game software executed by the game controller prior to the retrofit of the existing gaming machine;

receiving, in the processor, image data from a camera wherein the camera is for capturing an image of a user'"'"'s face when the user is at the gaming machine;

generating, in the processor, a transaction record including the image data received from the camera and the sensor information received from the value input device or the value output device in response to a value input or value output transaction such that the image of the user'"'"'s face performing the transaction is captured;

storing by the processor the transaction record including the image data and the sensor information associated with the transaction to the memory;

based upon the sensor information from a plurality of transactions, identifying an error pattern indicating the printer is operating sub-optimally;

sending, via the wireless interface on the retrofit gaming device one or more of

     1) the transaction record including the image data and sensor information associated with the transaction,

     2) the information associated with the play of the wager-based game or

     3) information associated with the error pattern to a remote device;

displaying transaction data and the image data associated with a first transaction via a third communication pathway added during the retrofit between the retrofit gaming device and the video display; and

wherein the retrofit gaming device is retrofitted to the value input device and the printer and configured to receive information from the printer via the first communication pathway and receive information from the value input device via a fourth communication pathway added during the retrofit that is between the retrofit gaming device and the value input device.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

sending a print message to the printer for allowing a custom ticket to be output by the printer.

22. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

determining whether at least one correction to the error pattern is available;

when at least one correction is available, generating and sending a correction message to the printer, said correction message including commands, data or combinations thereof for implementing the correction on the printer;

otherwise,

when at least one correction is not available, generating and sending a maintenance message requesting maintenance operation to be performed on the printer.