Wide area gaming system
A gaming network is comprised of a central gaming system and at least one gaming device to communicate with the gaming system using a wireless, packet-switched communications link. The gaming device has a communications to allow the device to communicate with a network, a processor to allow the device to provide gaming services, and an interface to allow the processor to communicate through the communications port with a wireless, packet-switched gaming network.
1 . A gaming network, comprising:
a central gaming system; and
at least one gaming device to communicate with the gaming system using a wireless, packet-switched communications link.
2 . The gaming network of claim 1 , the network comprising at least one local area network to which the gaming device is connected.
3 . The gaming network of claim 1 , the central gaming system further comprising a data collection system.
4 . The gaming network of claim 1 , the central gaming system further comprising an accounting system.
5 . The gaming network of claim 1 , the gaming device further comprising a video lottery gaming device.
6 . The gaming network of claim 1 , the communications link further comprising one selected from the group comprised of: a general packet radio system link, a third generation link and a fourth generation link.
7 . A gaming device, comprising:
a communications port to allow the device to communicate with a network;
a processor to allow the device to provide gaming services; and
an interface to allow the processor to communicate through the communications port with a wireless, packet-switched gaming network.
8 . The gaming device of claim 7 , the gaming device further comprising a local communications port to allow the device to communicate with a local area network.
9 . The gaming device of claim 7 , the gaming device further comprising memory to allow the device to store data.
10 . The gaming device of claim 7 , the interface further comprising a general packet radio system interface.
11 . The gaming device of claim 7 , the interface further comprising a third generation interface.
12 . The gaming device of claim 7 , the interface further comprising a fourth generation interface.
13 . The gaming device of claim 7 , the interface further comprising a fourth generation interface.
14 . A method of communicating across a gaming network, comprising:
establishing a wireless, packet-switched radio communication link from a gaming device to a central controller; and
exchanging data between the gaming device and the central controller.
15 . The method of claim 14 , establishing a wireless, packet-switched radio communication link further comprising establishing a general packet-switched radio system communications link.
16 . The method of claim 14 , exchanging data further comprising transmitting data from the gaming device to the central controller, wherein the data is one of the group comprised of: accounting meter data, event data, player information, technician information, game signature, and validation requests.
17 . The methods of claim 14 , exchanging data further comprising sending data from the central controller to the gaming device, wherein the data is one of the group comprised of: configuration data, enable signal, disable signal, signature request, and validation responses.
18 . The method of claim 14 , establishing a wireless, packet-switched radio communications link further comprising establishing a secure link.
19 . The method of claim 18 , exchanging data further comprising exchanging encrypted data.