SYSTEM FOR DIRECT REMOTE ACCESS TO MONEY-OPERATED AMUSEMENT DEVICE

• US 20110190051A1
• Filed: 02/01/2011
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AMI Entertainment Network, LLC
• Original Assignee: AMI Entertainment Network Incorporated (AMI Entertainment Network, LLC)
• Inventors: MAWSON, Matthew, NYCE, Greg, MCTERNAN, Brennan
• Granted Patent: US 8,727,886 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/31
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/352 involving special game server arrangements, e.g. regional servers connected to a national server or a plurality of servers managing partitions of the game world
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3227 Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system

Abstract

An amusement device communication system for direct remote access to money-operated amusement device includes an amusement device, an internet-based server, and a remote computer device. The amusement device has a memory, a display and a controller. The controller is operatively coupled to the memory, the input device and the display. The memory stores at least one electronic game and a system control program. The controller controls the display based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory and based upon inputs from the input device. The internet-based server is in communication with the amusement device through the internet. The remote computer device is configured to access the amusement device through a secured-communication connection through the internet-based server to allow access and control of the amusement device by the remote computer device.

Claims

1. An amusement device communication system for direct remote access to a money-operated amusement device, the system comprising:

at least one amusement device having a memory, a display and a controller, the controller being operatively coupled to the memory, the input device and the display, the memory storing at least one electronic game and a system control program, the controller controlling the display based upon the system control program retrieved from the memory and based upon inputs from the input device;

an internet-based server in communication with the amusement device through the internet; and

at least one remote computer device in communication with the internet, the remote computer device being configured to access the amusement device through a secured-communication connection through the internet-based server to allow access and control of the amusement device by the remote computer device.

2. The amusement device communication system according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of amusement devices, wherein the remote computer device is configured to access each of the plurality of amusement devices.

3. The amusement device communication system according to claim 1 further comprising a chat server in communication with the amusement device, the internet-based server and the remote computer device.

4. The amusement device communication system according to claim 3, wherein the chat server, the amusement device, the internet-based server and the remote computer device are in communication with each other via a network.

5. The amusement device communication system according to claim 3, wherein the chat server and the internet-based server are directly connected to each other.

6. The amusement device communication system according to claim 3, wherein the chat server is configured to issue diagnostic commands to the amusement device for monitoring of a plurality of operations of the amusement device.

7. The amusement device communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a browser application hosted on the internet-based server, the browser application providing an interface between the remote computer device and the amusement device.

8. A method of communicating with an amusement device via a remote computer device, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a communications system comprising at least one amusement device having a controller, a chat server in communication with the amusement device through the internet, an internet-based server in communication with the amusement device and the chat server through the internet, a browser application running on the internet-based server and in communication with the chat server and the amusement device, and at least one remote computer device in communication with the internet and configured to access the amusement device;

accessing the browser application from the remote computer device, wherein the browser application provides an interface between the remote computer device and the amusement device;

the internet-based server instructing the chat server to communicate with the amusement device;

the chat server issuing at least one diagnostic command to the amusement device to assess the availability of the amusement device;

the chat server issuing a command to the available amusement device to open a virtual private network;

the internet-based server using secure shell services and requesting the amusement device to allow establishment of a virtual network connection; and

controlling the amusement device from the remote computer device.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising a step of presenting a plurality of virtual buttons on the remote computer device, wherein the plurality of virtual buttons correspond to a plurality of physical buttons provided on the amusement device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the communications system comprises a plurality of amusement devices.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising a step of presenting a listing of the amusement devices with which the remote computer device may communicate.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the controlling is provided in real time.