Networks for use in gaming
View Patent ↗According to one example embodiment disclosed herein, a connection is established between a network and a plurality of gaming units located in a gaming establishment, wherein each gaming unit includes at least one wagering input unit; wherein the network includes one or more network resources and is connected to at least some of the plurality of gaming units; and a gaming information traffic is transmitted on the network.
1. A computer-implemented method of managing data traffic on a wagering game network, the method comprising:
establishing connections between the network and a plurality of gaming units, wherein each gaming unit includes at least one wagering input unit;
transmitting gaming information to and from the plurality of gaming units via the connections across the network;
monitoring real-time data traffic load conditions at the connections resulting from the transmitted gaming information; and
responding to the real-time data traffic load conditions by dynamically routing the gaming information through connections selected to facilitate transmitting gaming information to and from either a high-denomination gaming unit or a gaming unit experiencing a high wager frequency.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the network includes routing equipment, and wherein, prior to the dynamic routing of gaming information, the gaming information is routed in data units through the routing equipment based on a priority of the data units.
3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein establishing connections includes establishing a plurality of network paths between the gaming units and other network resources.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the gaming information is at least a stream of game content to be displayed on at least one of the plurality of gaming units, and further wherein the stream of game content is prioritized based on a player identity.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the gaming information is prioritized based on player perception related to operation of at least one of the plurality of gaming units.
6. A computer-readable, non-transitory medium encoded with instructions for directing a gaming system to perform the method comprising:
establishing connections between a network and a plurality of gaming units located in a gaming establishment, wherein each gaming unit of the plurality includes at least one wagering input unit and wherein the network includes one or more network resources and is connected to at least some of the plurality of gaming units;
transmitting gaming information to and from gaming units of the plurality of gaming units via the connections across the network;
monitoring real-time data traffic load conditions at the connections resulting from the transmitted gaming information; and
responding to the real-time data traffic load conditions by dynamically routing the gaming information through connections selected to facilitate transmitting gaming information to and from either a high-denomination gaming unit or a gaming, unit experiencing a high wager frequency.
7. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein the medium resides on a network management server connected for communication to the plurality of gaming units via the network.
8. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 , wherein network includes a plurality of network paths and wherein dynamically routing includes directing the gaming information along selected network paths.
9. A gaming system operable to manage data traffic across a wagering game network, the system comprising:
a plurality of gaming units;
one or more network resources coupled to at least one of the plurality of gaming units via a plurality of network paths;
a network management server; and
a memory device storing executable instructions that, when executed by the network management server, cause the network management server to operate with the plurality of gaming machines and the one or more network resources to establish connections between the plurality of network paths operable to transmit gaming information to and from the plurality of gaming units;
monitor real-time data traffic load conditions at the connections resulting from the gaming units and the network resources transmitting the gaming information over at least one of the network paths of the plurality of network paths;
in response to the monitored data traffic load conditions, dynamically route the gaming information along one or more specific network paths, wherein the one or more specific network paths are selected to facilitate transmitting gaming information to and from either a high-denomination gaming unit or a gaming unit experiencing a high wager frequency.
10. The gaming system of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of network nodes including network routing equipment.
11. The gaming system of claim 10 , wherein the network routing equipment includes one or more or a router, a switch, a hub, and routing software.
12. The gaming system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of network paths includes wireless paths and wherein the connections include wireless access points.
13. A computer-implemented method of managing data traffic in a wagering game network, the method comprising:
establishing connections throughout a plurality of network paths between a plurality of gaming units and other network resources;
transmitting gaming information to and from the gaming units via the network paths of the network;
monitoring real-time data traffic load conditions at the connections resulting from the transmitted gaming information;
in response to the monitored data traffic load conditions, dynamically routing the gaming information via network paths selected to facilitate transmitting gaming information to and from either a high-denomination gaming unit or a gaming unit experiencing a high wager frequency.
14. The method according to claim 13 , further including rerouting gaming information using a centralized rerouting process.
15. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the connections established with the gaining units include at least a wireless connection provided by a wireless access point, and further wherein the network monitors wireless coverage at least by detecting faults in the wireless access point.
16. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the connections established with the gaming units include at least a wireless connection provided by a wireless access point, and further wherein the network dynamically re-routes the gaming information through the wireless access point to establish an active network path for at least one of the gaming units.
17. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the network is at least partly formed according to a mesh network topology.
18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of network paths includes one or more wireless paths and the connections include at least one wireless access point, and wherein dynamically routing the gaining information includes directing the gaming information away from the at least one wireless access point.
19. The method according to claim 18 , further including monitoring the network using a monitoring server that monitors wireless coverage of the network as well as data traffic load conditions from the at least one wireless access point.
20. The method according to claim 19 , including reconfiguring the network such that, in response to the at least one access point being removed from operation, at least one other access point is reconfigured to compensate for the removed at least one access point.
21. The method according to claim 18 , wherein the network includes one or more access points and at least one gaming unit operable to provide the network with at least one indication of received signal strength allow the network to determine approximately which areas are weak in signal strength.
22. The method according to claim 18 , further including:
supporting one or more of the gaming units from one or more access points on the network; and
redeploying at least sonic of the one or more gaming units to different ones of the access points in response to data traffic load conditions.
23. The method of claim 18 , wherein establishing connections includes supporting one or more of the gaming units of the plurality via one of the wireless access points, and wherein dynamically routing includes redeploying the one or more gaming units to one or more different ones of the wireless access points.
24. The method of claim 23 , wherein dynamically routing is in response to a disruption of service from the one of the wireless access points.
25. The method of claim 13 , wherein the connections include at least one of a router, a switch, and a hub.
26. The method of claim 13 , wherein the other network resources include one or more of intelligent switches and intelligent routers that facilitate the monitoring of the load conditions and the dynamic routing of the gaming information.