Gaming machine having secondary gaming controller with proxy configuration

• US 10,127,765 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2014
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vulcan Gaming LLC
• Original Assignee: Tipping Point Group, LLC
• Inventors: Johnson, Sam
• Primary Examiner(s): Hylinski, Steven J
• Application Number:
  US14/550,249
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players
• 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 17/3244 Payment aspects of a gaming system, e.g. payment schemes, setting payout ratio, bonus or consolation prizes
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3251 involving media of variable value, e.g. programmable cards, programmable tokens
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3255 Incentive, loyalty and/or promotion schemes, e.g. comps, gaming associated with a purchase, gaming funded by advertisements

Abstract

A gaming machine has a main or master gaming controller for presenting primary games. A secondary controller is associated with the gaming machine for presenting secondary games. The gaming machine includes a primary gaming machine interface and a secondary gaming machine interface to one or more external servers, such as an accounting server. The secondary gaming machine interface is positioned between the master gaming controller and the primary gaming machine interface, whereby the secondary gaming machine interface acts as a host to the master gaming controller and whereby the secondary controller acts as a gaming device to the primary gaming machine interface.

Claims

1. A gaming machine comprising:

a housing;

a master gaming controller configured to implement primary game functionality at said gaming machine, including presenting primary game information at said electronic video display, said master gaming controller having at least one output for reporting information regarding activities associated with said master gaming controller;

a plurality of gaming machine peripherals communicating with said master gaming controller via one or more communication links, said plurality of gaming machine peripherals comprising an electronic video display, a credit accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing monetary value for at least partially funding at least one credit balance from which wagers may be placed and at least one input device via which a player may place wager from said at least one credit balance and initiate cash-out of said at least one credit balance, said at least one credit balance comprising a primary credit balance of one or more primary credits and a secondary credit balance of one or more secondary credits;

a primary gaming machine interface configured to exchange information with an accounting server;

a secondary controller, said secondary controller in communication with one or more of said communication links and configured to implement secondary game functionality at said gaming machine, including presenting secondary game information at said electronic video display;

a secondary gaming machine interface associated with said secondary controller, said secondary gaming machine interface configured to receive information from said at least one output of said master gaming controller and configured to transmit said information to said primary gaming machine interface and said secondary gaming machine interface configured to receive information regarding activities associated with said secondary controller and transmit said information to said primary gaming machine interface; and

said master gaming controller configured to track said one or more primary credits for use in playing primary games and said secondary controller configured to track said one or more secondary credits for use in playing secondary games and wherein said primary and secondary credits are reported via said primary gaming machine interface to said accounting server.

2. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one output of said master gaming controller comprises at least one gaming accounting system communication port.

3. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said second gaming machine interface comprises a portion of said secondary controller.

4. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of gaming machine peripherals comprises a ticket printer and said master gaming controller is configured to cause said ticket printer to print a ticket having a value of one or more primary credits and/or one or more secondary credits.

5. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of gaming machine peripherals are selected from the group consisting of:

at least one electronic video display, a least one printer and at least one media reader.

6. A gaming machine comprising:

a first gaming device, said first gaming device comprising;

a housing;

at least one game display device configured to display game information;

a credit accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing monetary value for at least partially funding at least one credit balance from which wagers may be placed;

at least one player input device via which a player may place wager from said at least one credit balance and initiate cash-out of said at least one credit balance; and

at least one first gaming machine controller configured to present at least one primary wagering game comprising causing said at least one game display device to display primary game information based upon said player placing a wager from said at least one credit balance;

a second gaming device, said second gaming device comprising;

at least one second gaming machine controller located in said housing, said at least one secondary gaming controller configured to present at least one secondary wagering game comprising causing said at least one game display device to display secondary game information;

and

at least one gaming device interface to at least one remote server, said at least one first gaming machine controller and said at least one second gaming machine controller communicating via said at least one gaming device interface with said at least one remote server, whereby said at least one remote server views said at least one first and at least one second gaming controllers as a single gaming device.

7. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 6 wherein said at least one remote server comprises a casino accounting server.

8. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 6 wherein said at least one gaming device interface comprises a primary gaming machine interface configured to exchange information with said at least one remote server and a secondary gaming machine interface associated with said at least one second gaming machine controller, said secondary gaming machine interface configured to receive information from said at least one first gaming machine controller and configured to transmit said information to said primary gaming machine interface and said secondary gaming machine interface configured to receive information regarding activities associated with said at least one second gaming machine controller and transmit said information to said primary gaming machine interface.

9. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 6 wherein said at least one gaming device interface comprises a slot machine interface board.

10. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 6 wherein said at least one first gaming machine controller and said at least one second gaming machine controller are not in direct communication with one another.

11. A method of accounting at a gaming machine having a master gaming controller configured to present primary game information and a secondary gaming controller configured to present secondary game information, at least one electronic display device configured to display game information related to said primary and secondary game information, a credit accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing monetary value for at least partially funding at least one credit balance, at least one input device via which a player may place a wager from said at least one credit balance and initiate a cash-out of said credit balance, comprising the steps of:

transmitting first information regarding activities associated with said master gaming controller to a secondary gaming machine interface;

transmitting said first information regarding activities associated with said master gaming controller and second information regarding activities associated with said secondary gaming controller to a primary gaming machine interface; and

transmitting said first information regarding activities associated with said master gaming controller and said second information regarding activities associated with said secondary gaming controller from said primary gaming machine interface to at least one server.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said primary gaming machine interface comprises a first slot machine interface board and said secondary gaming machine interface comprises a second slot machine interface board.

13. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said step of transmitting information regarding activities associated with said master gaming controller comprises outputting said information via at least one SAS port.

14. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said at least one server comprises an accounting server.

15. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said first information is selected from the group consisting of:

monetary value provided, wagers made to play one or more primary games presented by said master gaming controller, winnings awarded, and the number and/or type of primary games presented by said master gaming controller.

16. The method in accordance with claim 11 wherein said second information is selected from the group consisting of:

monetary value provided, wagers made to play one or more secondary games presented by said secondary gaming controller, winnings awarded, and the number and/or type of secondary games presented by said master gaming controller.

17. A gaming machine comprising:

a housing;

a master gaming controller configured to implement primary game functionality at said gaming machine, including presenting primary game information at said electronic video display, said master gaming controller having at least one output for reporting information regarding activities associated with said master gaming controller;

a plurality of gaming machine peripherals communicating with said master gaming controller via one or more communication links, said plurality of gaming machine peripherals comprising an electronic video display, a credit accepting device configured to receive a physical item representing monetary value for at least partially funding at least one credit balance from which wagers may be placed and at least one input device via which a player may place wager from said at least one credit balance and initiate cash-out of said at least one credit balance;

a primary gaming machine interface configured to exchange information with an accounting server;

a secondary controller, said secondary controller in communication with one or more of said communication links and configured to implement secondary game functionality at said gaming machine, including presenting secondary game information at said electronic video display;

a secondary gaming machine interface associated with said secondary controller, said secondary gaming machine interface configured to receive information from said at least one output of said master gaming controller and configured to transmit said information to said primary gaming machine interface and said secondary gaming machine interface configured to receive information regarding activities associated with said secondary controller and transmit said information to said primary gaming machine interface; and

said primary and secondary gaming machine interfaces each comprising a slot machine interface board.

18. The gaming machine in accordance with claim 17 wherein said at least one output of said master gaming controller comprises at least one gaming accounting system communication port.