US6503147B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Standard peripheral communication
Assignee: International Game Technology
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Filing: 2000-08-09
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Granted: 2003-01-07
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Expires: 2020-08-09
Abstract
Abstract A disclosed gaming machine has a plurality of “gaming peripherals,” each communicating with a master gaming controller via a standard peripheral interface such as the USB (Universal Serial Bus). Further, the gaming peripherals employ a standard peripheral controller and one or more specialized “peripheral devices” (e.g., the actual lights, bill validators, ticket printers, etc. that perform the specific functions of the gaming peripherals). Much of the hardware associated with the peripheral controller is identical from one gaming peripheral to the next. Only a portion of the peripheral controller hardware is specific to the different types of gaming peripherals.
Inventors
- 👤 James Stockdale
- 👤 Steven G. LeMay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 16:00
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/3202
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for controlling operation of a plurality of gaming peripherals connected to a gaming machine, each gaming peripheral comprising i) a peripheral controller, ii) one or more peripheral devices and iii) a standard peripheral communications connection for connecting the peripheral controller to a master gaming controller wherein the perpherial controller includes a control microprocessor for controlling communication with the master gaming controller over the standard peripheral communications connection the method comprising: sending a high level instruction for controlling a first gaming peripheral in the plurality of gaming peripherals from the master gaming controller to a peripheral controller in the first gaming peripheral via the standard peripheral communications connection, wherein the high level instruction does not precisely specify how the gaming peripheral must perform low level operations associated with the high level instruction; converting the high level instruction to one or more low level operating instructions for controlling the operation of the one or more peripheral devices provided with the gaming peripheral using the control microprocessor in the first gaming peripheral; and controlling operation of the one or more peripheral devices with the low level operating instructions. wherein each controller microprocessor is substantially identical in each gaming peripheral of the plurality of gaming peripherals.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
204 words
A method for controlling operation of a plurality of gaming peripherals connected to a gaming machine, each gaming peripheral comprising i) a peripheral controller, ii) one or more peripheral devices and iii) a standard peripheral communications connection for connecting the peripheral controller to a master gaming controller wherein the perpherial controller includes a control microprocessor for controlling communication with the master gaming controller over the standard peripheral communications connection the method comprising: sending a high level instruction for controlling a first gaming peripheral in the plurality of gaming peripherals from the master gaming controller to a peripheral controller in the first gaming peripheral via the standard peripheral communications connection, wherein the high level instruction does not precisely specify how the gaming peripheral must perform low level operations associated with the high level instruction; converting the high level instruction to one or more low level operating instructions for controlling the operation of the one or more peripheral devices provided with the gaming peripheral using the control microprocessor in the first gaming peripheral; and controlling operation of the one or more peripheral devices with the low level operating instructions. wherein each controller microprocessor is substantially identical in each gaming peripheral of the plurality of gaming peripherals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising confirming that the gaming peripheral is communicating with the master gaming controller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the gaming peripheral sends a keep alive message to the master gaming controller, in which the keep alive message specifies a current operation that is being executed by the gaming peripheral.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising prior to sending the high level instruction, identifying the features of a peripheral device using a standard device identification protocol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising, prior to sending the high level instruction, loading or initializing a device driver for the peripheral device at the master gaming controller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 5 , further comprising: determining that the master gaming controller has no device driver precisely matching the gaming peripheral; and identifying an available device driver that meets at least some requirements for controlling the gaming peripheral.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 5 , further comprising determining that the gaming peripheral has been disconnected or is no longer communicating with the master gaming controller; and removing the device driver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending instructions to configure the gaming peripheral, wherein the instructions are sent from the master gaming controller to the gaming peripheral via the peripheral connection.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing state history information in the gaming peripheral, said state history information specifying a recent operating state of the gaming peripheral; transmitting the stored state history information to the master gaming controller.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the state history information is stored in a non-volatile memory in the gaming peripheral.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more peripheral devices are selected from a group consisting of lights, printers, coin counters, bill validators, ticket readers, card readers, key pads, button panels, display screens, speakers, information panels, motors, mass storage devices and solenoids.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the standard peripheral communications connection is a USB connection.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-01-06 | 2006-07-08 | 2007-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-01-06 | 2010-07-08 | 2011-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-01-06 | 2014-07-08 | 2015-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |