Retrofit devices for providing virtual ticket-in and ticket-out on a gaming machine
First Claim
1. A method of operating a gaming device including a processor, an acceptor, and a memory in communication with a game controller and a printer, the method comprising:
- (a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establishing a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, wherein said physical item is selected from the group consisting of;
a ticket associated with the monetary value and a unit of currency;
(b) receiving a command being sent from the game controller to the printer to issue a printed ticket voucher;
(c) determining whether an indication to issue a virtual ticket voucher was received prior to receiving the command from the game controller, wherein the indication is not received from the game controller;
(d) if the indication was received prior to receiving the command;
(i) blocking the command from being sent to the printer;
(ii) determining, based on the command, a ticket validation number and a ticket amount;
(iii) generating a virtual ticket voucher including the ticket validation number and the ticket amount;
(iv) sending the virtual ticket voucher to a portable electronic device; and
(v) emulating the printer by sending at least one false message to the game controller, the at least one false message indicating that the printed ticket voucher was printed at the printer even though the printed ticket voucher was not printed and the virtual ticket voucher was sent to the portable electronic device; and
(e) if the indication was not received prior to receiving the command from the game controller;
(i) not blocking the command sent from the game controller to the printer to issue the printed ticket voucher, and(ii) causing the printer to issue the printed ticket voucher.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gaming system compatible with patron-controlled portable electronic devices, such as smart phones or tablet computers, is described. The gaming system can include electronic gaming machines that are compatible to receive both virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that are redeemable for credits on the electronic gaming machines. Information associated with a virtual ticket voucher can be stored on a patron-controlled portable electronic device and then can be wireless transmitted to the electronic gaming machines. The electronic gaming machines can be configured to issue virtual ticket vouchers and printed ticket vouchers that can be redeemed for cash or additional game play on another electronic gaming machine. In one embodiment, the electronic gaming machine can be configured to issue a virtual ticket voucher to a patron-controlled portable electronic device.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of operating a gaming device including a processor, an acceptor, and a memory in communication with a game controller and a printer, the method comprising:
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(a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establishing a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, wherein said physical item is selected from the group consisting of;
a ticket associated with the monetary value and a unit of currency;(b) receiving a command being sent from the game controller to the printer to issue a printed ticket voucher; (c) determining whether an indication to issue a virtual ticket voucher was received prior to receiving the command from the game controller, wherein the indication is not received from the game controller; (d) if the indication was received prior to receiving the command; (i) blocking the command from being sent to the printer; (ii) determining, based on the command, a ticket validation number and a ticket amount; (iii) generating a virtual ticket voucher including the ticket validation number and the ticket amount; (iv) sending the virtual ticket voucher to a portable electronic device; and (v) emulating the printer by sending at least one false message to the game controller, the at least one false message indicating that the printed ticket voucher was printed at the printer even though the printed ticket voucher was not printed and the virtual ticket voucher was sent to the portable electronic device; and (e) if the indication was not received prior to receiving the command from the game controller; (i) not blocking the command sent from the game controller to the printer to issue the printed ticket voucher, and (ii) causing the printer to issue the printed ticket voucher. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A gaming device comprising:
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a housing; a plurality of input devices supported by the housing, said plurality of input devices including an acceptor; a processor; a communication connection configured to be interposed on a communication link between a game controller and a printer that enables communications between the game controller and the printer to be received by the processor; and a memory which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the communication connection and the plurality of input devices to; (a) if a physical item is received via the acceptor, establishing a credit balance based, at least in part, on a monetary value associated with the received physical item, wherein said physical item is selected from the group consisting of;
a ticket associated with the monetary value and a unit of currency,(b) receive a command from the game controller to printer to issue a printed ticket voucher; (c) determine whether an indication to issue virtual ticket voucher was received prior to receiving the command from the game controller, wherein the indication is not received from the game controller, (d) if the indication was received prior to receiving the command from the game controller; (i) block the command from reaching the printer; (ii) determine, based on the command, a ticket validation number and a ticket amount; (iii) generate a virtual ticket voucher including the ticket validation number and the ticket amount; (iv) send the virtual ticket voucher to a portable electronic device; and (v) emulate the printer by responding to the game controller with a false message, the false message indicating that the printed ticket voucher is being generated at the printer, when the virtual ticket voucher was sent to the portable electronic device instead; and (e) when the indication is not received prior to receiving the command from the game controller; (i) not block the command from the game controller to the printer to issue the printed ticket voucher, and (ii) causing the printer to issue the printed ticket voucher.
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Specification