A gaming network is disclosed which includes point to point cabling infrastructure connectable to at least one first gaming machine and connectable to at least one second gaming machine. Each first gaming machine is arranged to communicate using a master/slave protocol, and each second gaming machine is arranged to communicate using a point to point protocol. The gaming network also includes an interface device having a communications bus connectable to a master/slave control device and to the point to point cabling infrastructure such that each first gaming machine is connected to the communications bus and is controllable by the master/slave control device through the point to point cabling infrastructure. The point to point cabling infrastructure is also connectable to a point to point control device such that at least one second gaming machine is controllable by the point to point control device through the point to point cabling infrastructure.
1. A gaming network comprising:
point to point cabling infrastructure connectable to at least one first gaming machine and connectable to at least one second gaming machine, each first gaming machine arranged to communicate using a master/slave protocol, and each second gaming machine arranged to communicate using a point to point protocol;
an interface device having a communications bus connectable to a master/slave control device and to the point to point cabling infrastructure such that each first gaming machine is connected to the communications bus and is controllable by the master/slave control device through the point to point cabling infrastructure;
the point to point cabling infrastructure being connectable to a point to point control device such that the at least one second gaming machine is controllable by the point to point control device through the point to point cabling infrastructure.
2. A gaming network as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gaming network comprises a master/slave control device arranged to control the first gaming machines.
3. A gaming network as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the gaming network comprises a point to point control device arranged to control the second gaming machines.
4. A gaming network as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the point to point cabling infrastructure comprises a plurality of twisted pair cables.
5. A gaming network as claimed in claim 4 , wherein at least one twisted pair cable is a Cat 5 type cable.
6. A gaming network as claimed in claim 4 , wherein at least one twisted pair cable comprises a RJ45 type connector.
7. A gaming network as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each first gaming machine is arranged so as to communicate through the point to point cabling infrastructure using a master/slave protocol in accordance with a RS485 standard.
8. A gaming network as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each second gaming machine is arranged so as to communicate through the point to point cabling infrastructure using a point to point protocol in accordance with an Ethernet standard.
9. A gaming network as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a patch panel having a plurality of patch sockets, each first and second gaming machine being connected to a patch socket through the point to point cabling infrastructure, and a plurality of patch cables arranged to facilitate selective connection between the patch sockets and the master/slave control device or point to point control device.
10. A gaming network as claimed in claim 1 , comprising a network switch disposed between the point to point control device and the point to point cabling infrastructure.