Candle radio

• US 7,867,095 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2005
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Mattice, Harold E., Wells, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): D'AGOSTINO, PAUL ANTHONY
• Application Number:
  US11/156,161
• Publication Number:
  US 20060287095A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,034 Days
• Field of Search: 463/46
• US Class Current: 463/46
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing communications using the candle of a gaming machine are disclosed. A candle radio includes an antenna and transceiver within a housing, as well as one or more light sources and a mounting mechanism configured to mount the candle radio to a respective gaming machine or terminal. The transceiver and antenna are adapted to facilitate radio communications with at least one external transponder/transceiver, which can include wireless system access points and/or additional candle radios associated with other gaming machines. The antenna can be located at the top of the candle radio, while the transceiver can be located within a base at the bottom. An input connector on the transceiver facilitates communications with the gaming machine MGC. The candle radio can be adapted to split radio communications into portions and retransmit one or more portions of a communication, which may be done at differing radio frequencies.

Claims

1. A gaming machine adapted for accepting a wager, playing a game based on the wager and granting a monetary payout based on the result of the game, comprising:

an exterior chassis having an upper surface and arranged to contain a plurality of internal gaming machine components therein;

a master gaming controller in communication with at least one of said plurality of internal gaming machine components, said master gaming controller being adapted to execute or control one or more aspects of said game; and

a candle radio in communication with said master gaming controller and disposed atop said upper surface, said candle radio including;

a substantially hollow candle housing, said candle housing being at least partially transparent to light,

a first light source disposed within said candle housing and arranged such that light emitting therefrom is visible outside of said candle housing,

an antenna disposed within said candle housing and adapted to facilitate radio communications with a first external transceiver, and

a first candle transceiver disposed within said candle housing and in communication with said antenna, said first candle transceiver adapted to conduct radio communications with said first external transceiver,

wherein said first external transceiver comprises a second candle transceiver situated at a second separate gaming machine,

wherein said first candle transceiver is further adapted to conduct radio communications with a wireless system access point, and

wherein said first candle transceiver is further adapted to;

receive a first radio communication from a wireless system access point, the first radio communication including a plurality of content portions associated with different events related to gaming machine activity, the events including items selected from the group consisting of a security event, a jackpot event, a gaming machine platform event, a high priority event, and a low priority event;

divide the first radio communication into frequency portions corresponding to the respective content portions, the frequency portions having separate frequencies different from a frequency of the first radio communication,

the frequency portions including a first frequency portion having a first frequency and including a first content portion associated with a first gaming machine activity event, and

a second frequency portion having a second frequency and including a second content portion associated with a second gaming machine activity event different from the first gaming machine activity event;

transmit the divided frequency portions of the first radio communication to said first external transceiver, each transmitted frequency portion including the corresponding content portion of the first radio communication, such that the first frequency portion is transmitted on the first frequency, the second frequency portion is transmitted on the second frequency, and the transmitted frequency portion identifies the gaming machine activity event associated with the corresponding content portion of the first radio communication, said first external transceiver being tuned to receive or not receive a designated one or more of the transmitted frequency portions, said first external transceiver configured to act responsive to receiving the designated one or more transmitted frequency portions,

wherein the first frequency is reserved for high-priority events and the second frequency is reserved for low-priority events,

the first gaming machine activity event comprises a high-priority event, and the second gaming machine activity event comprises a low-priority event,

the first external transceiver is tuned to receive at least the first frequency portion and the second frequency portion; and

conduct radio communications with a second external transceiver, wherein the second external transceiver comprises a third candle transceiver from a third separate gaming machine, and the second external transceiver is tuned to receive at least the first frequency portion and further tuned to not receive the second frequency portion, and

the second external transceiver is configured to act in response to receiving the first frequency portion,

wherein the first frequency portion comprises at least one security communication, including an indication of an unexpected access to a gaming machine.

2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said candle radio further includes a mounting mechanism configured to mount said candle radio to said gaming machine.

3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said antenna is positioned above said first light source.

4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said candle housing is substantially cylindrical in nature.

5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said candle radio further includes a base at the bottom of said candle housing.

6. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said first candle transceiver includes at least one input connector adapted to facilitate further communications with said master gaming controller.

7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein said first candle transceiver is further adapted to receive a first radio communication from said second external transceiver and forward at least a first portion of said first radio communication to said first external transceiver.

8. The gaming machine of claim 5, wherein said first candle transceiver is disposed within said base at the bottom of said candle housing.

9. The gaming machine of claim 6, wherein said at least one input connector is selected from the group consisting of RS-232, USB and Ethernet connectors.

10. A gaming system adapted for accepting wagers, playing games based on the wagers and granting monetary payouts based on the results of the games, comprising:

a plurality of physical terminals including input and output devices adapted to facilitate the acceptance of said wagers, display of said games and granting of said monetary payouts;

at least one master gaming controller in communication with one or more of said plurality of input and output devices, said at least one master gaming controller being adapted to execute or control one or more aspects of said games;

a plurality of candle radios associated with said plurality of physical terminals, each candle radio including a substantially hollow candle housing that is at least partially transparent to light, a light source within said candle housing and arranged such that light emitting therefrom is visible outside of said candle housing, an antenna disposed within said candle housing and adapted to facilitate radio communications with an external transceiver, and a candle transceiver disposed within said candle housing and in communication with said antenna, said candle transceiver adapted to conduct radio communications with said external transceiver;

a host computer in communication with said plurality of candle radios, wherein said host computer is arranged to process data from said plurality of candle radios, issue instructions to said plurality of candle radios, or both;

at least one wireless system access point including a transceiver electrically coupled to said host computer and adapted to conduct radio communications with at least one of said plurality of candle radios,

wherein at least a first of said plurality of candle radios is adapted to conduct radio communications with said at least one wireless system access point and also with at least a second of said plurality of candle radios,

wherein said first candle radio is further adapted to;

receive a first radio communication from a wireless system access point, the first radio communication including a plurality of content portions associated with different events related to gaming machine activity, the events including items selected from the group consisting of a security event, a jackpot event, a gaming machine platform event, a high priority event, and a low priority event;

divide the first radio communication into frequency portions corresponding to the respective content portions, the frequency portions having separate frequencies different from a frequency of the first radio communication,

the frequency portions including a first frequency portion having a first frequency and including a first content portion associated with a first gaming machine activity event, and

a second frequency portion having a second frequency and including a second content portion associated with a second gaming machine activity event different from the first gaming machine activity event;

transmit the divided frequency portions of the first radio communication to said second candle radio, each transmitted frequency portion including the corresponding content portion of the first radio communication, such that the first frequency portion is transmitted on the first frequency, the second frequency portion is transmitted on the second frequency, and the transmitted frequency portion identifies the gaming machine activity event associated with the corresponding content portion of the first radio communication, said second candle radio being tuned to receive or not receive a designated one or more of the transmitted frequency portions, said second candle radio configured to act responsive to receiving the designated one or more transmitted frequency portions,

wherein the first frequency is reserved for high-priority events and the second frequency is reserved for low-priority events,

the first gaming machine activity event comprises a high-priority event, and the second gaming machine activity event comprises a low-priority event,

the second candle radio is tuned to receive at least the first frequency portion and the second frequency portion, and

conduct radio communications with a third candle radio, wherein the third candle radio comprises a second candle transceiver from a second gaming machine, and the third candle radio is tuned to receive at least the first frequency portion and further tuned to not receive the second frequency portion, and

the third candle radio is configured to act in response to receiving the first frequency portion,

wherein the first frequency portion comprises at least one security communication, including an indication of an unexpected access to a gaming machine.

11. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein at least one of said plurality of physical terminals comprises a gaming machine.

12. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein at least one of said plurality of candle radios further includes a mounting mechanism configured to mount said at least one candle radio to at least one of said plurality of physical terminals.

13. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein at least one of said plurality of candle radios further includes a base at the bottom of said candle housing, and wherein said candle transceiver is disposed within said base at the bottom of said candle housing.

14. The gaming system of claim 10, wherein said first candle radio is further adapted to conduct radio communications with a third of said plurality of candle radios.

15. The gaming system of claim 14, wherein said first candle radio is further adapted to receive a first radio communication from said second candle radio and forward at least a portion of said first radio communication to said third candle radio.

16. A candle radio, comprising:

an exterior candle housing, said candle housing being at least partially transparent to light;

a first light source disposed within said candle housing and arranged such that light emitting therefrom is visible outside of said candle housing;

an antenna disposed within said candle housing and adapted to receive a signal from an external transponder; and

a receiver disposed within said candle housing and in communication with said antenna, said receiver adapted to take an appropriate action in response to said signal

wherein said receiver comprises a first transceiver that is also adapted to provide communications from said candle radio,

wherein said first transceiver is further adapted to conduct radio communications with one or more separate candle radios and one or more wireless system access points, and

wherein said first transceiver is further adapted to;

receive a first radio communication from a wireless system access point, the first radio communication including a plurality of content portions associated with different events related to gaming machine activity, the events including items selected from the group consisting of a security event, a jackpot event, a gaming machine platform event, a high priority event, and a low priority event;

divide the first radio communication into frequency portions corresponding to the respective content portions, the frequency portions having separate frequencies different from a frequency of the first radio communication,

the frequency portions including a first frequency portion having a first frequency and including a first content portion associated with a first gaming machine activity event, and

a second frequency portion having a second frequency and including a second content portion associated with a second gaming machine activity event different from the first gaming machine activity event;

transmit the divided frequency portions of the first radio communication to a first separate candle radio, each transmitted frequency portion including the corresponding content portion of the first radio communication, such that the first frequency portion is transmitted on the first frequency, the second frequency portion is transmitted on the second frequency, and the transmitted frequency portion identifies the gaming machine activity event associated with the corresponding content portion of the first radio communication, said first separate candle radio being tuned to receive or not receive a designated one or more of the transmitted frequency portions, said first separate candle radio configured to act responsive to receiving the designated one or more transmitted frequency portions;

wherein the first frequency is reserved for high-priority events and the second frequency is reserved for low-priority events,

the first gaming machine activity event comprises a high-priority event, and the second gaming machine activity event comprises a low-priority event,

the first separate candle radio is tuned to receive at least the first frequency portion and the second frequency portion; and

conduct radio communications with a second separate candle radio, wherein the second separate candle radio comprises a second transceiver from a separate gaming machine, and the second separate candle radio is tuned to receive at least the first frequency portion and further tuned to not receive the second frequency portion, and

the second separate candle radio is configured to act in response to receiving the first frequency portion,

wherein the first frequency portion comprises at least one security communication, including an indication of an unexpected access to a gaming machine.

17. The candle radio of claim 16, further comprising:

a mounting mechanism configured to mount said candle radio assembly to an associated machine.

18. The candle radio of claim 16, further comprising:

a base at the bottom of said candle housing, wherein said receiver is disposed within said base at the bottom of said candle housing.

19. The candle radio of claim 16, wherein said external transponder comprises another separate candle radio.

20. A gaming machine, comprising:

a physical terminal having an outer surface and arranged to contain one or more internal gaming machine components therein;

a master gaming controller in communication with at least one of said one or more internal gaming machine components, said master gaming controller being adapted to execute or control one or more aspects of said game; and

a candle radio disposed about said outer surface, said candle radio including;

an exterior candle housing, said candle housing being at least partially transparent to light,

a first light source disposed within said candle housing and arranged such that light emitting therefrom is visible outside of said candle housing,

an antenna disposed within said candle housing and adapted to facilitate wireless communications with an external transponder, and

a receiver disposed within said candle housing and in communication with said antenna, said receiver adapted to conduct and act upon wireless communications with said external transponder,

wherein said receiver comprises a first transceiver that is adapted to provide communications from said candle radio,

wherein said first transceiver is further adapted to conduct radio communications with one or more separate candle radios and one or more wireless system access points, and

wherein said first transceiver is further adapted to;

receive a first radio communication from a wireless system access point, the first radio communication including a plurality of content portions associated with different events related to gaming machine activity, the events including items selected from the group consisting of a security event, a jackpot event, a gaming machine platform event, a high priority event, and a low priority event;

divide the first radio communication into frequency portions corresponding to the respective content portions, the frequency portions having separate frequencies different from a frequency of the first radio communication, the frequency portions including a first frequency portion having a first frequency and including a first content portion associated with a first gaming machine activity event, and a second frequency portion having a second frequency and including a second content portion associated with a second gaming machine activity event different from the first gaming machine activity event;

transmit the divided frequency portions of the first radio communication to a separate candle radio, each transmitted frequency portion including the corresponding content portion of the first radio communication, such that the first frequency portion is transmitted on the first frequency, the second frequency portion is transmitted on the second frequency, and the transmitted frequency portion identifies the gaming machine activity event associated with the corresponding content portion of the first radio communication, said separate candle radio being tuned to receive or not receive a designated one or more of the transmitted frequency portions, said separate candle radio configured to act responsive to receiving the designated one or more transmitted frequency portions,

wherein the first frequency is reserved for high-priority events and the second frequency is reserved for low-priority events,

the first gaming machine activity event comprises a high-priority event, and the second gaming machine activity event comprises a low-priority event,

the first separate candle radio is tuned to receive at least the first frequency portion and the second frequency portion; and

conduct radio communications with a second separate candle radio, wherein the second separate candle radio comprises a second transceiver from a separate gaming machine, and the second separate candle radio is tuned to receive at least the first frequency portion and further tuned to not receive the second frequency portion, and

the second separate candle radio is configured to act in response to receiving the first frequency portion,

wherein the first frequency portion comprises at least one security communication, including an indication of an unexpected access to a gaming machine.

21. A method of conducting wireless communications within a gaming system, comprising:

providing a gaming machine having an exterior housing arranged to contain a plurality of internal gaming machine components therein and an associated candle radio visible from outside said gaming machine, said candle radio including a candle housing that is at least partially transparent to light, a first light source disposed within said candle housing and arranged such that light emitting therefrom is visible outside of said candle housing, an antenna disposed within said candle housing and adapted to facilitate wireless communications with an external transponder, and a candle receiver disposed within said candle housing and in communication with said antenna;

sending a wireless communication from said external transponder to said candle radio, the wireless communication including a plurality of content portions associated with different events related to gaming machine activity, the events including items selected from the group consisting of a security event, a jackpot event, a gaming machine platform event, a high priority event, and a low priority event;

receiving the wireless communication at said antenna disposed within said candle housing;

transmitting said communication to said candle receiver disposed within said candle housing; and

acting upon said communication at said candle receiver disposed within said candle housing after receiving said communication,

wherein said candle receiver comprises a transceiver,

wherein said step of acting upon said communication includes;

identifying the content portions of the wireless communication;

determining that the wireless communication is to be parsed into frequency portions;

dividing the wireless communication into frequency portions corresponding to the respective identified content portions, the frequency portions having separate frequencies,

the frequency portions including a first frequency portion having a first frequency and including a first content portion associated with a first gaming machine activity event, and

a second frequency portion having a second frequency and including a second content portion associated with a second gaming machine activity event different from the first gaming machine activity event;

transmitting the divided frequency portions of the wireless communication from the candle radio to one or more first external receivers of one or more second candle radios of second gaming machines, each transmitted frequency portion including the corresponding content portion of the wireless communication, such that the first frequency portion is transmitted on the first frequency, the second frequency portion is transmitted on the second frequency, and the transmitted frequency portion identifies the gaming machine activity event associated with the corresponding content portion of the wireless communication, the one or more external receivers being tuned to receive or not receive a designated one or more of the transmitted frequency portions, the one or more first external receivers configured to act responsive to receiving the designated one or more transmitted frequency portions,

wherein the first frequency is reserved for high-priority events and the second frequency is reserved for low-priority events,

the first gaming machine activity event comprises a high-priority event, and the second gaming machine activity event comprises a low-priority event,

the one or more first external receivers are tuned to receive at least the first frequency portion and the second frequency portion; and

communicating via radio with a second external receiver of a third gaming machine, wherein the second external receiver is tuned to receive at least the first frequency portion and further tuned to not receive the second frequency portion, and

the second external receiver is configured to act in response to receiving the first frequency portion,

wherein the first frequency portion comprises at least one security communication, including an indication of an unexpected access to a gaming machine.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of acting upon said communication includes causing said first light source to become illuminated.

23. The method of claim 21, further including the step of:

replacing said entire candle radio at said gaming machine with another entire candle radio, wherein said step of replacing does not involve any internal access to said gaming machine.

24. A method of parsing wireless communications at a candle radio situated at a gaming machine within a gaming system, the candle radio visible from outside the gaming machine, the candle radio including a candle housing at least partially transparent to light, a first light source disposed within the candle housing and arranged such that light emitting therefrom is visible outside of the candle housing, an antenna disposed within the candle housing and adapted to facilitate wireless communications with an external transponder, a candle receiver disposed within the candle housing and in communication with said antenna, and a candle transmitter, the method comprising:

receiving, at the antenna of the candle radio, a wireless communication provided from the external transponder, the wireless communication including a plurality of content portions associated with different events related to gaming machine activity, the events including items selected from the group consisting of a security event, a jackpot event, a gaming machine platform event, a high priority event, and a low priority event;

providing the wireless communication from the antenna to the candle receiver of the candle radio;

identifying the content portions of the wireless communication;

determining that the wireless communication is to be parsed into frequency portions;

dividing the wireless communication into frequency portions corresponding to the respective identified content portions, the frequency portions having separate frequencies,

the frequency portions including a first frequency portion having a first frequency and including a first content portion associated with a first gaming machine activity event, and

a second frequency portion having a second frequency and including a second content portion associated with a second gaming machine activity event different from the first gaming machine activity event;

transmitting the divided frequency portions of the wireless communication from the transmitter of the candle radio to one or more first external receivers of one or more further candle radios of second gaming machines, each transmitted frequency portion including the corresponding content portion of the wireless communication, such that the first frequency portion is transmitted on the first frequency, the second frequency portion is transmitted on the second frequency, and the transmitted frequency portion identifies the gaming machine activity event associated with the corresponding content portion of the wireless communication, the one or more first external receivers being tuned to receive or not receive a designated one or more of the transmitted frequency portions, the one or more first external receivers configured to act responsive to receiving the designated one or more transmitted frequency portions,

wherein the first frequency is reserved for high-priority events and the second frequency is reserved for low-priority events,

the first gaming machine activity event comprises a high-priority event, and the second gaming machine activity event comprises a low-priority event,

the one or more first external receivers are tuned to receive at least the first frequency portion and the second frequency portion; and

communicating via radio with a second external receiver of a third gaming machine, wherein the second external receiver is tuned to receive at least the first frequency portion and further tuned to not receive the second frequency portion, and

the second external receiver is configured to act in response to receiving the first frequency portion,

wherein the first frequency portion comprises at least one security communication, including an indication of an unexpected access to a gaming machine.