Method and apparatus for low cost concurrent provision of gaming machine token redemption and ATM services
View Patent ↗A method and apparatus for concurrently providing automatic teller machine (ATM) and gaming machine token redemption services is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a token redemption surface having a token redemption user interface including a token acceptor for accepting tokens representing gaming machine redemption values, an ATM surface, having an ATM user interface, a bill dispenser disposed between the token redemption surface and the ATM surface, the bill dispenser having a first dispensing port adjacent the token redemption surface and a second dispensing port adjacent the ATM surface, and a processor, communicatively coupled to the token acceptor and the bill dispensing device, the processor for accepting signals from the token acceptor and for commanding the bill dispenser to dispense bills via the first dispensing port according to the gaming machine redemption values.
1. An apparatus for concurrent providing automatic teller machine (ATM) and gaming machine token redemption services, comprising:
a token redemption surface having a token redemption user interface including a token acceptor for accepting tokens representing gaming machine redemption values;
an ATM surface, having an ATM user interface;
a bill dispenser disposed between the token redemption surface and the ATM surface, the bill dispenser having a first dispensing port adjacent the token redemption surface and a second dispensing port adjacent the ATM surface and a bill routing system for presenting dispensed bills to either the first dispensing port or the second dispensing port;
a processor, communicatively coupled to the token acceptor and the bill dispensing device, the processor for accepting signals from the token acceptor and for commanding the bill dispenser to dispense bills via the first dispensing port according to the gaming machine redemption values.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further coupled to the ATM user interface and the processor accepts signals from the ATM user interface and commands the bill dispenser to dispense bills via the second dispensing port.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second processor coupled to the ATM user interface, the second processor for accepting signals from the ATM user interface and for commanding the bill dispenser to dispense bills via the second dispensing port according to the accepted signals from the ATM interface.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the first processor is supplied with a commercial off the shelf (COTS) bill dispenser and the second processor is independent from the first processor.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein before commanding the bill dispenser to dispense bills via the second dispensing port, the second processor commands an interruption of commands sent from the first processor to the bill dispenser to dispense bills via the first dispensing port, stores the interrupted commands, and provides the stored interrupted commands to the bill dispenser after commanding the bill dispenser to dispense bills via the first dispensing port.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the ATM surface further comprises a second token redemption user interface having a second token acceptor.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein:
the token redemption surface further comprises a second ATM user interface.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the token redemption surface and the ATM surface are disposed on diametrically opposite sides of a kiosk.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the token redemption user interface further comprises a printer for dispensing printed information.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the token redemption user interface further comprises a keyboard for accepting user input and a display for displaying information to the user.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the token is selected from a group of token types comprising:
a printed ticket;
a magnetic card;
a smart card;
a flash memory; and
a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tagged device.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
the token acceptor accepts one of the token types selected from the group; and
the token redemption surface further comprises a second token acceptor that accepts a second token of different token type in the group of token types.
13. A method of providing concurrent automatic teller machine (ATM) and gaming token redemption services, comprising the steps of:
concurrently accepting a gaming machine token representing a gaming machine redemption value from a first user in a token redemption user interface and ATM commands from a second user in an ATM user interface; and
commanding a bill dispenser to selectively route dispensed bills to the first user via a first dispensing port adjacent the token redemption user interface according to the redemption value or to the second user via a second dispensing port adjacent the ATM user interface according to the ATM commands.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein:
the token redemption user interface comprises a token acceptor; and
the step of concurrently accepting gaming machine tokens representing gaming machine redemption values in a token redemption user interface from a first user and ATM commands in an ATM user interface from a second user comprises the steps of:
concurrently accepting the token from the first user in a token acceptor and the ATM commands in the ATM user interface from the second user;
concurrently receiving token information read by the token acceptor in a processor coupled to the token redemption user interface and receiving ATM commands in a second processor coupled to the ATM user interface;
the step of commanding a bill dispenser to selectively route dispensed bills to the first user via a first dispensing port adjacent the token redemption user interface according to the redemption value or to the second user via a second dispensing port adjacent the ATM user interface according to the ATM commands comprises the steps of:
determining the redemption value of the token;
determining a pay out value from the ATM commands;
commanding the bill dispenser to dispense bills via only one of the first dispensing port and the second dispensing port at a time, wherein bills are dispensed to the first user via the first dispensing port according to the determined redemption value and bills are dispensed to the second user via the second dispensing port according to the ATM commands.
15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the token redemption user interface and the ATM user interface are disposed on diametrically opposite sides of a kiosk.
16. The method of claim 13 , wherein the token redemption user interface and the ATM user interface are disposed on different sides of a kiosk having a polygonal cross section.
17. The method of claim 13 , wherein the token is selected from a group of token types comprising:
a printed ticket;
a magnetic card;
a smart card;
a flash memory; and
a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tagged device.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein:
the first gaming machine token is one of the token types selected from the group of token types;
the method further comprises the step of:
accepting a second gaming machine token of a different token type in the group of token types, the second gaming machine token representing a second gaming machine redemption value from the first user in the token redemption user interface concurrently with accepting the ATM commands from a second user in the ATM user interface.
19. An apparatus for providing concurrent automatic teller machine (ATM) and gaming token redemption services, comprising:
means for concurrently accepting a gaming machine token representing a gaming machine redemption value in a token redemption user interface from a first user and ATM commands in an ATM user interface from a second user; and
means for commanding a bill dispenser to selectively dispense bills to the first user from a first dispensing port adjacent the token redemption user interface according to the redemption value and to the second user from a second dispensing port adjacent the ATM user interface according to the ATM commands.
20. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein:
the token redemption user interface comprises a token acceptor; and
the means for concurrently accepting gaming machine tokens representing gaming machine redemption values in a token redemption user interface from a first user and ATM commands in an ATM user interface from a second user comprises:
means for concurrently accepting the token from the first user in a token acceptor and the ATM commands in the ATM user interface from the second user; and
means for concurrently receiving token information read by the token acceptor in a processor coupled to the token redemption user interface and receiving ATM commands in a second processor coupled to the ATM user interface;
the means for commanding a bill dispenser to selectively dispense bills to the first user from a first dispensing port adjacent the token redemption user interface according to the redemption value and to the second user from a second dispensing port adjacent the ATM user interface according to the ATM commands comprises:
means for determining the redemption value of the token;
means for determining a pay out value from the ATM commands;
means for commanding the bill dispenser to dispense bills via only one of the first dispensing port and the second dispensing port at a time, wherein bills are dispensed to the first user via the first dispensing port according to the determined redemption value and bills are dispensed to the second user via the second dispensing port according to the ATM commands.
21. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the token redemption user interface and the ATM user interface are disposed on diametrically opposite sides of a kiosk.
22. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the token redemption user interface and the ATM user interface are disposed on different sides of a kiosk having a polygonal cross section.
23. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the token is selected from the group comprising:
a printed ticket;
a magnetic card;
a smart card;
a flash memory; and
a radio frequency identifier (RFID) tagged device.
24. The apparatus of claim 19 , wherein:
the first gaming machine token is one of the token types selected from the group of token types;
the apparatus further comprises:
means for accepting a second gaming machine token of a different token type in the group of token types, the second gaming machine token representing a second gaming machine redemption value from the first user in the token redemption user interface concurrently with accepting the ATM commands from a second user in the ATM user interface.