System and method for monitoring a validator

• US 8,651,378 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2012
• Issued: 02/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: INTECQ Ltd. (Tabcorp Holdings Limited)
• Original Assignee: INTECQ Ltd. (Tabcorp Holdings Limited)
• Inventors: Toohey, Tony, Jack, David
• Primary Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US13/537,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20120267433A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 235379-381, 235/435, 235/382, 705 43- 44, 705 64- 67, 705/75, 705/73, 713/159, 713/172, 713/183, 713/185, 463/1, 463/25, 463/29, 902/8, 902/30, 902/31, 902/23, 194/200
• US Class Current: 235/382
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1085 involving automatic teller machines [ATMs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/04 by paper currency
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/08 by coded identity card or credit card or other personal identification means without personal verification means G07F7/02
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/12 Card verification
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/122 Online card verification

Abstract

A system for monitoring a validator that assesses a token includes an input device for receiving messages from a machine including a validator. The messages contain data indicative of validator events such as an assessment of a token resulting in acceptance of the token and an assessment of a token resulting in rejection of the token. The system further includes a processor for deriving timing information for the validator events and for comparing the data and timing information with predetermined criteria. Personnel alerts are raised when predetermined criteria are satisfied, and maintenance of validators may be scheduled in dependence upon criteria related to assessments of tokens resulting in rejection.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

an input device configured to receive messages from plural machines having validators that assess payment tokens, the messages indicative of at least one of acceptance or rejection of the payment tokens; and

a processor configured to identify a walk-away event at a first machine of the machines when a first validator at the first machine rejects a first payment token and at least a threshold time period expires following this rejection without the first validator accepting or rejecting a second payment token, the processor also configured to request servicing of at least one of the first validator or the first machine based on the walk-away event,

wherein the processor is configured to request servicing of one or more of the validators or the machines according to a priority that is based on walk-away events identified at the machines.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to identify the walk-away event when a number of assessments of the payment tokens at the first machine resulting in rejection of the payment tokens exceed a designated threshold.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the messages received from the machines identify which of the machines transmitted the messages.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to periodically poll the machines to receive the messages.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to receive the messages from only those of the machines having the validators that assessed one or more of the payment tokens since a previous polling of the machines.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the processor is configured to determine times of receipt for the messages transmitted from the machines during a first polling cycle, the processor configured to make the times of receipt for the messages received during the first polling cycle as equivalent to a time at which the first polling cycle begins regardless of when the messages are actually received by the processor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the machines are gaming machines that receive the payment tokens in order to allow players to play games at the machines.

8. A system comprising:

an input device configured to receive messages from plural machines having validators that assess payment tokens, the messages indicative of at least one of acceptance or rejection of the payment tokens; and

a processor configured to identify a walk-away event at a first machine of the machines when a first validator at the first machine rejects a first payment token and at least a threshold time period expires following this rejection without the first validator accepting or rejecting a second payment token, the processor also configured to request servicing of at least one of the first validator or the first machine based on the walk-away event,

wherein the processor is configured to periodically poll the machines to receive the messages.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to request servicing of one or more of the validators or the machines according to a priority that is based on walk-away events identified at the machines.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to identify the walk-away event when a number of assessments of the payment tokens at the first machine resulting in rejection of the payment tokens exceed a designated threshold.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the messages received from the machines identify which of the machines transmitted the messages.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to receive the messages from only those of the machines having the validators that assessed one or more of the payment tokens since a previous polling of the machines.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to determine times of receipt for the messages transmitted from the machines during a first polling cycle, the processor configured to make the times of receipt for the messages received during the first polling cycle as equivalent to a time at which the first polling cycle begins regardless of when the messages are actually received by the processor.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the machines are gaming machines that receive the payment tokens in order to allow players to play games at the machines.