Method for creating an electronic log for documenting entries into gaming machines

• US 9,087,431 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2014
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acres Technology
• Original Assignee: Patent Investment & Licensing Company
• Inventors: Acres, John F., McCurry, Andrea, Parker, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): TORIMIRO, ADETOKUNBO OLUSEGUN
• Application Number:
  US14/451,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20150045122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 351 Days
• Field of Search: 463/9, 463/20, 463/22, 463/25, 463/39, 463/42, 463/43
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3272 Games involving multiple players
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/34 depending on the stopping of moving members in a mechanical slot machine, e.g. "fruit" machines

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for creating an electronic log for documenting entries into electronic gaming machines on a network. The network is monitored by a network computing device. People who enter the machines carry mobile computing devices that communicate over a normally operating wireless network. Cooperating among the network computing device and the wireless network results in creating an entry that includes the identify of a person entering one of the gaming machines, the identity of the gaming machine entered, and the reason for entry. The entry is stored in an electronic log.

Claims

1. A method for dispatching a person to enter an electronic gaming device on a network of electronic gaming devices and creating an electronic log that documents the entry, the method comprising:

defining a plurality of floor areas in the casino, each floor area including a predefined number of electronic gaming machines;

storing the plurality of floor areas in a database;

creating a list of persons each having at least one associated floor area and who is qualified to enter the electronic gaming device;

storing the list in a memory connected to the network;

monitoring the network of electronic gaming devices via a network computing device;

detecting a communication on the network indicating that an identified electronic gaming device needs service that requires entering the identified electronic gaming device;

automatically assigning a person qualified to enter the identified electronic gaming devices to provide the service;

generating a call to provide the required service to the identified electronic gaming device;

automatically sending a call signal via a normally operating wireless network to a mobile computing device carried by the assigned person, the signal including data indicating the identified electronic gaming device and the type of service required;

receiving a call-acceptance signal responsive to an input on the mobile computing device carried by the assigned person indicating that he or she has accepted the call;

determining that the identified electronic gaming device has been entered when a sensor associated with the one gaming device is operating normally, the sensor being connected to the network of electronic gaming devices;

creating an entry for the electronic log in a memory connected to the network, the log including at least the identify of the person, the identify of the machine, and the reason for entry; and

storing the entry in a memory connected to the network.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a signal at the network computing device in response to action taken by the person indicating that the person has arrived at the identified electronic gaming machine.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving the signal is in response to a signal generated on the normally operable wireless network as a result of an input received at a user interface of the mobile computing device.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein receiving the signal is in response to receiving an input via the network of electronic computing devices from a device that uniquely identifies the person and that is connectible to the network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensor is not operating normally and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a signal at the network computing device via the normally operable wireless network as a result of an input received at a user interface of the mobile computing device, the signal indicating that the service is complete;

transmitting a signal via the normally operating wireless network that generates a query on the mobile computing device asking if the electronic gaming device was entered; and

if so, receiving a signal at the network computing device from the mobile computing device that includes data indicating the reason for entry.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the wireless network is not operating normally and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving data via a user interface of the mobile computing device indicating the reason for entering the electronic computing device;

storing the data locally; and

transmitting the data via the wireless computing device when the wireless network resumes normal operation.

7. A method for creating an electronic log for electronic gaming devices on a network to log information regarding entry of the electronic gaming devices, the method comprising:

defining a plurality of floor areas in the casino, each floor area including a predefined number of electronic gaming machines;

storing the plurality of floor areas in a database;

creating a list of persons each having at least one associated floor area and who is qualified to enter the electronic gaming device;

storing the list in a memory connected to the network;

monitoring the network of electronic gaming machines via a network computing device;

detecting at the network computing device a communication on the network indicating that an identified electronic gaming device needs service;

generating a call to provide the needed service to an identified one of the persons associated with the floor area near the identified electronic gaming device;

monitoring a wireless network for communications from a mobile computing device carried by people qualified to enter the electronic gaming devices, the wireless network being connected to the network computing device;

receiving a signal at the network computing device in response to action taken by the one person indicating that the one person has arrived at the identified electronic gaming device;

determining that the one electronic gaming device has been entered when a sensor associated with the one gaming device is operating normally, the sensor being connected to the network of electronic gaming devices;

receiving at the network computing device a reason for entry of the one electronic gaming device in response to receiving a reason from the one person via the mobile computing device;

creating an entry for the log in a memory connected to the network, the log including at least the identify of the one person, the identify of the machine, and the reason for entry; and

storing the entry in an electronic log.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising automatically sending a signal via a normally operating wireless network to a mobile computing device carried by the one person, the signal including data indicating the identified electronic gaming device and the type of service required.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the type of service required does not involve entering the electronic gaming device.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein receiving a signal at the network computing device in response to action taken by the one person indicating that the one person has arrived at the identified electronic gaming device is in response to a signal generated on the normally operable wireless network as a result of an input received at a user interface of the mobile computing device.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein receiving a signal at the network computing device in response to action taken by the one person indicating that the one person has arrived at the identified electronic gaming device is in response to receiving an input via the network of electronic computing devices from a device that uniquely identifies the person and that is connectible to the network.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the sensor is not operating normally and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a signal at the network computing device via the normally operable wireless network as a result of an input received at a user interface of the mobile computing device, the signal indicating that the service is complete;

transmitting a signal via the normally operating wireless network that generates a query on the mobile computing device asking if the electronic gaming device was entered; and

if so, receiving a signal at the network computing device from the mobile computing device that includes data indicating the reason for entry.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein the wireless network is not operating normally and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving data via a user interface of the mobile computing device indicating the reason for entering the electronic computing device;

storing the data locally; and

transmitting the data via the wireless computing device when it resumes normal operation.

14. A method for creating an electronic log for electronic gaming devices on a network when people enter the machines to provide service, the method comprising:

monitoring the network of electronic gaming machines via a network computing device;

receiving a signal at the network computing device generated in response to action taken by a person indicating that the person intends to enter an identified electronic gaming device;

determining that the identified electronic gaming device has been entered when a sensor associated with the identified gaming device is operating normally, the sensor being connected to the network of electronic gaming devices;

generating a reason for entry of the identified electronic gaming device in response to a reason received from the person via a mobile computing device in communication with a wireless network that is connected to the network computing device;

creating an entry for the log in a memory connected to the network, the log including at least the identify of the person, the identify of the identified machine, and the reason for entry; and

storing the entry in the electronic log.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving the signal is in response to a signal generated on the normally operable wireless network as a result of an input received at a user interface of the mobile computing device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the signal includes data indicating the identified electronic gaming machine.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving data at the network computing device via the wireless network that includes a comment generated on the mobile computing device related to the reason for entry of the identified electronic gaming device.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising storing the comment in the electronic log.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the sensor is not operating normally and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a signal at the network computing device via the normally operable wireless network as a result of an input received at a user interface of the mobile computing device, the signal indicating that the service is complete;

transmitting a signal via the normally operating wireless network that generates a query on the mobile computing device asking if the electronic gaming device was entered; and

if so, receiving a signal at the network computing device from the mobile computing device that includes data indicating the reason for entry.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the wireless network is not operating normally and wherein the method further comprises:

receiving data via a user interface of the mobile computing device indicating the reason for entering the electronic computing device;

storing the data locally; and

transmitting the data via the wireless computing device when it resumes normal operation.