TWO-WIRE EXCHANGE SYSTEM

• US 20070202954A1
• Filed: 04/13/2007
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: DiMichele, Carmen, Morrow, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,500,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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

Abstract

A two-wire exchange system is disclosed that enables a gaming device having one communication port to function as a gaming device having a plurality of communication ports. The two-wire exchange system allows a gaming device having only a single communication port to connect to two or more system hosts simultaneously. The two-wire exchange system is an intelligent multiplexer that communicates using the same protocol as the system hosts to which it is connected. The two-wire exchange system has the ability to respond to a poll from the system host by indicating that the gaming device is busy, and that the system host should poll the gaming device again. This is provided to avoid and to prevent data collisions. The two-wire exchange system is also able to directly arbitrate and facilitate the communication between one or more peripheral hosts and the system hosts.

Claims

1. A gaming system, comprising:

a gaming device having a single Ethernet communication port; and

an intelligent multiplexer in simultaneous communication with a plurality of system hosts, and the intelligent multiplexer is in communication with a plurality of peripheral devices, wherein the intelligent multiplexer enables the Ethernet communication port to function as if the communication port is a plurality of ports, and wherein the intelligent multiplexer arbitrates communication between the peripheral devices and the system hosts.

2. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the intelligent multiplexer includes a protocol converter.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein an internet protocol address is assigned to each peripheral device.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the peripheral devices are internal components of the gaming device.

5. The gaming system of claim 4, wherein the peripheral device is a game monitoring unit, slot machine interface board, bill acceptor, ticket printer, card reader, card reader display, or a combination thereof.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the intelligent multiplexer includes a game monitoring unit that monitors a game and accounting-related data.

7. The gaming system of claim 6, wherein the intelligent multiplexer further comprises a slot machine interface board in communication with the game monitoring unit, wherein the slot machine interface board includes one or more Ethernet ports connected to one or more peripheral devices located within the gaming device.

8. A gaming system, comprising:

a gaming device having a single communication port; and

an enhanced multiplexer in simultaneous communication with a plurality of system hosts, wherein the intelligent multiplexer enables the communication port to function as if the communication port is a plurality of ports, and wherein the enhanced multiplexer includes a game monitoring unit to monitor one or more games on the gaming device and game accounting-related data.

9. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the enhanced multiplexer further comprises a slot machine interface board in communication with the game monitoring unit, wherein the slot machine interface board includes one or more Ethernet ports connected to one or more peripheral devices located within the gaming device.

10. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the single communication port is an Ethernet port.

11. The gaming system of claim 8, wherein the enhanced multiplexer includes a protocol converter.

12. A method of remotely controlling a peripheral device in a gaming machine, the method comprising:

providing a gaming machine having a single communication port coupled to an intelligent multiplexer that is in simultaneous communication with a plurality of system hosts, and the intelligent multiplexer is in communication with a plurality of peripheral devices;

receiving one or more system messages sent from one or more system hosts that are intended for one or more peripheral devices;

arbitrating the system messages; and

sending the system messages to an intended peripheral device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving one or more messages sent from the peripheral devices of the gaming machine;

arbitrating the received messages by the intelligent multiplexer; and

transmitting the received messages to one or more system hosts.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein arbitrating the system messages further comprises prioritizing data flow from the plurality of system hosts.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein data flow is prioritized by one or more quality of service parameters.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein data flow is prioritized by time criticality of the messages.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising fragmenting data packets to control data flow.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising splitting data messages to control data flow.