Gaming Machine Apparatus
An electronic gaming machine includes, in an embodiment, an embedded processing module, which is compliant with a Computer-On-Module Express standard, and which includes at least one processor. The electronic gaming machine may further include a network interface controller, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module through a first serial, differential signaling bus, one or more mass storage devices, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module through a second serial, differential signaling bus, and a gaming specific input/output module, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module, to perform gaming machine specific functions.
1 . An electronic gaming machine comprising:
an embedded processing module, which is compliant with a Computer-On-Module Express standard, and which includes at least one processor;
a network interface controller, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module through a first serial, differential signaling bus;
one or more mass storage devices, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module through a second serial, differential signaling bus; and
a gaming specific input/output (I/O) module, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module, to perform gaming machine specific functions.
2 . The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the first serial, differential signaling bus is configured according to a PCI Express standard.
3 . The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the network interface controller is to interface with an external network to download game software into the electronic gaming machine.
4 . The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the second serial, differential signaling bus is configured according to a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) specification, and wherein the one or more mass storage devices include one or more SATA compliant hard disks or flash disks.
5 . The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the one or more mass storage devices include one or more hard disks or flash disks to store graphics data and audio data.
6 . The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the one or more mass storage devices include one or more hard disks or flash disks to store game software.
7 . The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
an audio subsystem, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module, which provides for high-definition, multiple channel audio.
8 . The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
an audio subsystem, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module through a serial bus, which is configured according to an Audio Codec '97 specification.
9 . The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
a video subsystem, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module, to provide video output to dual independent displays.
10 . The electronic gaming machine of claim 9 , further comprising:
dual independent displays, operatively coupled to the video subsystem.
11 . The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
a video subsystem, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module through a serial bus, which implements a PCI Express Graphics specification.
12 . The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
a trusted platform module, operatively coupled to the processing module.
13 . The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more peripheral devices selected from a group of devices that includes a coin validator, a bill validator, a card reader, a coin hopper, and a ticket printer.
14 . The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more user interfaces selected from a group of user interfaces that includes a button panel, a mechanical slot-machine lever arm, and a touch-screen display device.
15 . The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
a casino-style cabinet, which houses the electronic gaming machine.
16 . The electronic gaming machine of claim 1 , further comprising:
gaming software, which when executed by the electronic gaming machine, produces a game selected from a group of games that includes a slot machine, a bingo game, a keno game, a craps game, a roulette wheel, a card game, video poker, blackjack, a game show, a racing game, and a trivia game.