SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VALIDATING DOWNLOAD OR CONFIGURATION ASSIGNMENT FOR AN EGM OR EGM COLLECTION

• US 20090124394A1
• Filed: 11/12/2008
• Published: 05/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Swarna, Rajesh
• Granted Patent: US 8,347,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed

Abstract

A slot management system including a download and configuration server-based sub-system and method is disclosed for use with game devices, systems, and methods is provided to enable users to monitor, control, and modify different game devices and other related activities. The slot management system includes a validator that validates assignments to modify game devices.

Claims

1. An assignment validator for processing an assignment that modifies a gaming machine comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one computer readable storage medium; and

an assignment validation module that is stored in the at least one computer readable storage medium and that is configured, when executed by the at least one processor, to;

receive a first assignment to modify a gaming machine;

determine a likelihood of success for a successful execution of the first assignment at the time of execution of the first assignment based at least on current state information; and

provide a notification of the likelihood of success at a time that is prior to an execution time of the first assignment.

2. The assignment validator of claim 1 wherein the assignment validation module is further configured to determine a likelihood of success for a successful execution of the first assignment at the time of execution of the first assignment based at least on current state information by:

determining whether a second assignment to modify gaming machine is scheduled; and

determining whether the second assignment, if any, conflicts with the first assignment.

3. The assignment validator of claim 2 wherein the assignment validation module is further configured to determine whether the second assignment, if any, conflicts with the first assignment by:

determining whether the first and the second assignments are temporally spaced apart so as to not overlap when the first and the second assignments are respectively executed.

4. The assignment validator of claim 3 wherein the assignment validation module is further configured to:

determine that the second assignment conflicts with the first assignment in response to determining that the first and the second assignments are not temporally spaced apart so as to not overlap when the first and the second assignments are respectively executed.

5. The assignment validator of claim 3 wherein the assignment validation module is further configured to:

estimate a completion time for when the first assignment and the second assignment, if any, are completed;

determine whether the estimated completion time is no later than a scheduled implementation time of the gaming machine, wherein the gaming machine is scheduled to implement modifications based on the first assignment and the second assignment, if any, by the scheduled implementation time; and

determine that the first assignment and the second assignment conflict in response to determining that the estimated completion time is later than the scheduled implementation time.

6. The assignment validator of claim 1 wherein the assignment validation module is further configured to determine whether the second assignment, if any, conflicts with the first assignment by:

estimating a state of the gaming machine at a time when the second assignment is completed; and

determining whether the estimated state of the gaming machine is a valid state for successful completion of the first assignment.

7. The assignment validator of claim 1 wherein the assignment validation module is further configured to determine whether the second assignment, if any, conflicts with the first assignment by:

estimating a state of the gaming machine at a time when the first assignment is completed; and

determining whether the estimated state of the gaming machine is a valid state for successful completion of the second assignment.

8. The assignment validator of claim 1, comprising:

a display device that displays the notification of the likelihood of success.

9. A computer implemented method of processing an assignment that modifies a gaming machine, the method comprising:

at a time that is prior to an execution time,

receiving a first assignment to modify a gaming machine;

determining a likelihood of success for a successful execution of the first assignment at the time of execution of the first assignment based at least on current state information; and

providing a notification of the likelihood of success.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 9 wherein determining a likelihood of success for a successful execution of the first assignment at the time of execution of the first assignment based at least on current state information includes:

determining whether a second assignment to modify gaming machine is scheduled; and

determining whether the second assignment, if any, conflicts with the first assignment.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 10 wherein if there is a second assignment, then determining whether the second assignment conflicts with the first assignment includes:

determining whether the first and the second assignments are temporally spaced apart so as to not overlap when the first and the second assignments are respectively executed.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 11, comprising:

determining that the second assignment conflicts with the first assignment in response to determining that the first and the second assignments are not temporally spaced apart so as to not overlap when the first and the second assignments are respectively executed.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 11, comprising:

estimating a completion time for when the first assignment and the second assignment, if any, are completed;

determining whether the estimated completion time is no later than a scheduled implementation time of the gaming machine, wherein the gaming machine is scheduled to implement modifications based on the first assignment and the second assignment, if any, at the scheduled implementation time; and

determining that the first assignment and the second assignment conflict in response to determining that the estimated completion time is later than the scheduled implementation time.

14. The computer implemented method of claim 9 wherein if there is a second assignment, then determining whether the second assignment conflicts with the first assignment includes:

estimating a state of the gaming machine at a time when the second assignment is completed; and

determining whether the estimated state of the gaming machine is a valid state for successful completion of the first assignment.

15. The computer implemented method of claim 9 wherein if there is a second assignment, then determining whether the second assignment conflicts with the first assignment includes:

estimating a state of the gaming machine at a time when the first assignment is completed; and

determining whether the estimated state of the gaming machine is a valid state for successful completion of the second assignment.