Gaming system and a method of monitoring a gaming device
View Patent ↗A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a game controller arranged to implement a game, at least one game meter arranged to obtain game related information, and an interface device arranged to facilitate transfer of at least some of the obtained game related information to a portable data storage device in response to a transfer instruction. A corresponding method of monitoring a gaming device is also disclosed.
1. A gaming system comprising:
a readable user identification device that identifies a user;
a portable data storage device of the user, the portable data storage device comprising an identifier; and
a gaming machine comprising:
a credit input mechanism configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value for establishing a credit balance, the credit balance being increasable and decreasable based at least on wagering activity;
a tracking device comprising:
a device reader configured to engage the readable user identification device of the user and read the readable user identification device of the user; and
an authorization code reader configured to receive manual input of an authorization code from the user;
a display device;
a game meter configured to store game meter information related to play of a game of the gaming machine;
a memory that is separate from the portable data storage device and is configured to store game meter data derived from the game meter information;
an interface device configured to communicate with the portable data storage device, and transfer at least some of the game meter data stored in the memory to the portable data storage device;
a game controller configured to implement the play of the game, in accord with having established the credit balance via the credit input mechanism having received the physical item, the game controller configured to:
authenticate that the user is authorized transfer the game meter data based on the readable user identification device and the authorization code received by the tracking device;
authenticate that the portable data storage device is authorized to receive the game meter data based on the identifier of the portable data storage device; and
display a visual system menu on the display device for the user after authenticating that the user is authorized to transfer the game meter data, the visual system menu being configured to provide an interface usable by the user to provide instructions to the game controller to transfer at least some of the game meter data from the memory to the portable data storage device; and
an output mechanism configured to provide payouts to a player of the game based on the credit balance.
2. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein:
the interface device comprises a USB interface configured to mechanically and electrically engage with the portable data storage device; and
the portable data storage device comprises a USB data storage device configured to store the at least some of the game meter data transferred to the portable data storage device.
3. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the interface device comprises a wireless communication interface configured to communicate wirelessly with the portable data storage device.
4. The gaming system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the wireless communication interface comprises a Bluetooth communication interface configured to communicate wirelessly with the portable data storage device.
5. The gaming system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the wireless communication interface comprises a WiFi communication interface configured to communicate wirelessly with the portable data storage device.
6. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the tracking device is configured to determine an identity of the player.
7. The gaming system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the tracking device is configured to receive a player card for identifying the player.
8. The gaming system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the tracking device comprises a card reader configured to read the player card.
9. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the interface device is configured to receive a transfer instruction from the user.
10. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the game controller is further configured to automatically generate a transfer instruction when a connection is established between the interface device and the portable data storage device.
11. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the game meter information comprises information indicative of a number of credits received and dispensed by the gaming machine, a number of games played, and/or a number of wins.
12. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the game meter information comprises security information indicative of whether a door of the gaming machine has been opened and/or whether a tilt has occurred during game play.
13. The gaming system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a network interface for communication with a gaming server.
14. A gaming machine comprising:
a credit input mechanism configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value for establishing a credit balance, the credit balance being increasable and decreasable based at least on wagering activity;
a tracking device comprising:
a device reader configured to engage a readable user identification device of a user and read the readable user identification device of the user; and
an authorization code reader configured to receive manual input of an authorization code from the user;
a display device;
a game meter configured to store game meter information related to play of a game of the gaming machine;
a memory configured to store game meter data derived from the game meter information;
an interface device configured to communicate with a portable data storage device of the user, and transfer at least some of the game meter data stored in the memory to the portable data storage device of the user;
a game controller configured to implement the play of the game, in accord with having established the credit balance via the credit input mechanism having received the physical item, the game controller configured to:
authenticate that the user is authorized to transfer the game meter data based on the readable user identification device and the authorization code received by the tracking device;
authenticate that the portable data storage device is authorized to receive the game meter data based on an identifier of the portable data storage device; and
display a visual system menu on the display device for the user after authenticating that the user is authorized to transfer the game meter data, the visual system menu being configured to provide an interface usable by the user to provide instructions to the game controller to transfer at least some of the game meter data from the memory to the portable data storage device of the user; and
an output mechanism configured to provide payouts to a player of the game based on the credit balance.
15. The gaming machine as claimed in claim 14 , wherein:
the interface device comprises a USB interface configured to mechanically and electrically engage with the portable data storage device; and
the portable data storage device comprises a USB data storage device configured to store the at least some of the game meter data transferred to the portable data storage device.
16. The gaming machine as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the interface device comprises a Bluetooth communication interface configured to communicate wirelessly with the portable data storage device.
17. The gaming machine as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the interface device comprises a WiFi communication interface configured to communicate wirelessly with the portable data storage device.
18. The gaming machine as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the tracking device is configured to determine an identity of the player.
19. The gaming machine as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the game meter information comprises information indicative of a number of credits received and dispensed by the gaming machine, a number of games played, and/or a number of wins.
20. The gaming machine as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the game meter information comprises security information indicative of whether a door of the gaming machine has been opened and/or whether a tilt has occurred during game play.