EP0325455A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Intercommunication method and system thereof
Assignee: Universal KK
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Filing: 1989-01-19
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-01-19
Abstract
Abstract To control a plurality of apparatuses (6a-6z), the apparatuses and a master control unit (2) having a communication unit are all connected for intercommunication in series through communication lines (10). One of the communication unit is used for exchanging messages between the master control unit and the apparatuses. Messages can transfer from one apparatus to another one in sequence. In another embodiment, the last apparatus is further connected with another communication unit of the master control unit, making a looped communication circuit. Therefore, messages sent out from one of the communication units of the master control unit can be received by the other communication unit to monitor the intercommunication. If a communication line is disconnected, messages can be also sent from another communication unit of the master control unit in reverse direction, making it possible to communicate with all of the apparatuses.
Inventors
- 👤 Naomi Ishida
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/40; H04L12/403; G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F9/00; G07F9/08; H04L12/42; H04L12/423; H04L12/437
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
A communication method in which intercommunication of messages is made between a master control unit (2) having a first communication unit (16) and a plurality of apparatuses (6a-6z), comprising the steps of: connecting all of said apparatuses (6a-6z) in series via first communication lines (10a); connecting a first apparatus (6a) of said apparatuses with said first communication unit (16) via a second communication line (10b); and transferring said message from one of said apparatus (6) to said another one of the apparatuses which is adjacent thereto in the communication path so as to make said intercommunication between said master control unit (2) and any arbitrary one of said apparatuses (6a-6z).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
A communication method in which intercommunication of messages is made between a master control unit (2) having a first communication unit (16) and a plurality of apparatuses (6a-6z), comprising the steps of: connecting all of said apparatuses (6a-6z) in series via first communication lines (10a); connecting a first apparatus (6a) of said apparatuses with said first communication unit (16) via a second communication line (10b); and transferring said message from one of said apparatus (6) to said another one of the apparatuses which is adjacent thereto in the communication path so as to make said intercommunication between said master control unit (2) and any arbitrary one of said apparatuses (6a-6z).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A communication method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of: connecting a second communication unit (17) of said master control unit with a last apparatus (6z) of said apparatuses through a third communication line (10b); and operating one of said first and second communication units (16, 17) so as to make said intercommunication.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
63 words
A communication method as claimed in claim 2, wherein when it is impossible to continue said intercommunication with one of said apparatuses (6a-6z) operating only one of said first and second communication units (16, 17) due to line trouble, the other of said first and second communication units (16, 17) is operated so as to communicate with said one of the apparatuses (6a-6z).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
A communication method as claimed in claim 3, wherein a decision as to whether or not the cause of said impossibility of an attempted intercommunication is line trouble is performed by monitoring whether said master control unit (z) receives a message as a response from an apparatus (6a-6z) which has received a message from said master control unit (2) within a fixed time, said monitoring being made by using that one of the communication units (16, 17) which is not operated for that attempted intercommunication.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
A communication method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising the steps of: providing an address to each of said apparatuses (6a-6z), said addresses differing from each other; and including an address code in said message to specify one apparatus (6a-6z) only which makes said intercommunication.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
A communication system for making intercommunication of messages with a plurality of apparatuses (6a-6z) which are able to transmit and receive said messages, comprising: a master control unit (2); a first communication unit (16) provided in said master control unit (2), said messages being transmitted and received through said first communication unit (16); a plurality of first communication lines (10a) via which said apparatuses (6a-6z) are connected serially; and a second communication line (10b) via which one end apparatus (6a) of said serially-connected apparatuses (6a-6z) and said first communication unit (2) are connected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
A communication system for making intercommunication of messages with a plurality of apparatuses (6a-6z) which are able to transmit and receive said messages, comprising: a master control unit (2); a first communication unit (16) provided in said master control unit (2), said messages being transmitted and received through said first communication unit (16); a plurality of first communication lines (10a) via which said apparatuses (6a-6z) are connected serially; and a second communication line (10b) via which one end apparatus (6a) of said serially-connected apparatuses (6a-6z) and said first communication unit (2) are connected.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: a second communication unit (17) provided in said master control unit (2), said messages being transmitted and received through said second communication unit (17); and a third communication line (10b) through which the other end apparatus (6z) of said serially-connected apparatuses (6a-6z) and said second communication unit (17) are connected.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: a switching unit (19) which is provided in said master control unit (2) so as to make either one of said first and second communication units (16, 17) operative.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 8, further comprising: a monitoring unit (18) which is provided in the master control unit (2) for monitoring said intercommunication and for making the other of said first and second communication units (16, 17) effective when said monitoring unit (18) detects that abnormality of said intercommunication has occurred.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
A communication system as claimed in any of claims 6 to 9, wherein an address is provided to each of said apparatuses (6a-6z) and each of said message if provided with an address code representing an address so that each of said messages is exchanged between said master control unit (2) and only one of said apparatuses (6a-6z), said addresses differing from each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of said apparatuses (6a-6z) is a slave unit having third and fourth communication units for transmitting and receiving said message.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 11, said first and second communication units (16, 17) of said master control unit (2) and each of said slave units are provided with a transmitting device (27a) and a receiving device (26a), and said first, second and third communication lines comprise a transmitting line and receiving line.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
163 words
A communication system for making intercommunication between a master control unit (2) and a plurality of slave units (6a-6z), each of said slave units (6a-6z) is provided in each of apparatus, comprising: first and second communication units (16, 17) which are provided in said master control unit (2), each of said first and second communication units (16, 17) having a transmitting device for transmitting first messages and a receiving device for receiving second messages from each of said slave units (6a-6z); third and fourth communication units (26, 27) which are provided in each of said slave units, each of said third and fourth communication units having a transmitting device for transmitting first message and a receiving device for receiving second messages from each of said slave units; and two communication lines (10a, 10b) for making a looped circuit of said master control unit (2) and said slave units (6a-6z), said communication lines being connected with said first, second, third and fourth communication systems.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
163 words
A communication system for making intercommunication between a master control unit (2) and a plurality of slave units (6a-6z), each of said slave units (6a-6z) is provided in each of apparatus, comprising: first and second communication units (16, 17) which are provided in said master control unit (2), each of said first and second communication units (16, 17) having a transmitting device for transmitting first messages and a receiving device for receiving second messages from each of said slave units (6a-6z); third and fourth communication units (26, 27) which are provided in each of said slave units, each of said third and fourth communication units having a transmitting device for transmitting first message and a receiving device for receiving second messages from each of said slave units; and two communication lines (10a, 10b) for making a looped circuit of said master control unit (2) and said slave units (6a-6z), said communication lines being connected with said first, second, third and fourth communication systems.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
65 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 13, wherein said master control unit (2) includes means (19) for making one of said first and second communication unit provided in said master control unit effective in normal communication, and for making said first and second communication units provided in said master control unit effective alternatively in abnormal communication so as to continue said intercommunication without interruption.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
39 words
A communication system as claimed in claim, wherein each of said first, second, third and fourth communication units is provided with a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device for optical communication, and said communication lines are optical fibre cables.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A communication system as claimed in claim 15, said apparatuses are associated with respective slot machines.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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