Shared transport medium system and method for use within a casino or gambling environment
A gaming system and associated method are provided including at least one electronic gaming machine, and an apparatus selected from the group consisting of a data collection unit and a back-end server. Further included is a transport medium for providing communication between the at least one electronic gaming machine and the apparatus.
1 . A gaming system, comprising:
at least one electronic gaming machine;
an apparatus selected from the group consisting of a data collection unit and a back-end server; and
a transport medium for providing communication between the at least one electronic gaming machine and the apparatus.
2 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus performs switching operations.
3 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes the data collection unit.
4 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes the back-end server.
5 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the transport medium provides the communication between the at least one electronic gaming machine and the apparatus, utilizing a system interface board associated with the at least one electronic gaming machine.
6 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the transport medium is selected from the group consisting of category 5 twisted pair cabling, fiber optics cabling, and coax cabling.
7 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured as a virtual link interface.
8 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured as a channel interface.
9 . The gaming system of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the electronic gaming machines are included, each capable of communicating with each other utilizing the transport medium.
10 . The gaming system of claim 9 , wherein each of the electronic gaming machines communicate via a dedicated virtual link or channel interface.
11 . A method, comprising:
providing communication between at least one electronic gaming machine, and an apparatus selected from the group consisting of at least one of a data collection unit and a back-end server, utilizing a transport medium.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus performs switching operations.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus includes the data collection unit.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus includes the back-end server.
15 . The method of claim 1 1 , wherein the transport medium provides the communication between the at least one electronic gaming machine and the apparatus, utilizing a system interface board associated with the at least one electronic gaming machine.
16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the transport medium is selected from the group consisting of category 5 twisted pair cabling, fiber optics cabling, and coax cabling.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is configured as a virtual link interface.
18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is configured as a channel interface.
19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein a plurality of the electronic gaming machines are included, each capable of communicating with each other utilizing the transport medium.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein each of the electronic gaming machines communicate via a dedicated virtual link or channel interface.