INTEGRATION GATEWAY

1 .- 29 . (canceled)

30 . A networked server system for use in mediating electronic message communication among heterogeneous client devices in a casino gaming environment, the networked server system comprising:

an integration gateway server, selectively communicatively coupled by a network to one or more client devices, the integration gateway server programmed to execute instructions that permit communication therebetween, according to a selected one of a plurality of messaging models,

wherein, when an asynchronous point-to-point messaging model is active,

the integration gateway server computer queues an electronic message from a message producing client device, and

delivers the queued electronic message to a designated message consuming receiver client device; and

when an asynchronous publish/subscribe messaging model is active, the integration gateway server computer gathers electronic messages at a topic destination, and

distributes the electronic messages gathered at the topic destination to a plurality of message consuming subscriber client devices.

31 . The networked server system of claim 30 , further comprising the one or more message producing client devices.

32 . The networked server system of claim 30 , further comprising the one or more message consuming subscriber client devices.

33 . The networked server system of claim 30 wherein the integration gateway server distributes the electronic messages to a particular message destination specified in a message header.

34 . The networked server system of claim 30 wherein the integration gateway server delivers the queued electronic message to a particular message destination specified in a message header.

35 . The networked server system of claim 30 wherein the integration gateway server is further programmed to execute instructions that:

receive platform-specific data from one or more message producing client devices;

store the platform-specific data in a message destination;

transform the platform-specific data;

re-format the platform-specific data; and

deliver the transformed, re-formatted data to a message consuming client device.

36 . The networked server system of claim 30 , further comprising a transceiver that provides wireless communication.

37 . The networked server system of claim 30 wherein the client devices are casino gaming machines.

38 . A method of mediating electronic messages between heterogeneous client devices in a casino gaming environment by an integration gateway server computer, the method comprising:

when an asynchronous point-to-point messaging model is active,

queuing an electronic message from a message producing sender client device; and

delivering the electronic message held in the queue to a designated message consuming receiver client device; and

when an asynchronous publish/subscribe messaging model is active,

gathering electronic messages at a topic destination; and

distributing the electronic messages at the topic destination to a plurality of message consuming subscriber client devices.

39 . The method of claim 38 , further comprising mediating electronic messages in accordance with a synchronous request/response messaging model.

40 . The method of claim 38 wherein the queuing the electronic message includes holding the message when the receiver client device is inactive.

41 . An integration gateway server communicatively coupled to one or more processor-based casino gaming devices, the integration gateway server comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium communicatively coupled to the processor, the storage medium having instructions stored thereon that cause the processor to:

log electronic messages having different, platform-specific formats;

perform one or more data transformations that re-format the electronic messages to allow cross-platform communication among the casino gaming devices; and

implement communication services using acknowledgement protocols to ensure message integrity.

42 . The integration gateway server of claim 41 wherein the non-transitory processor-readable storage medium stores a database.

43 . The integration gateway server of claim 41 wherein the instructions further cause the processor to provide local configuration cache services.

44 . The integration gateway server of claim 41 wherein the communication services are implemented in accordance with a System to System (S2S) gaming industry acknowledgement protocol to enable communication among heterogeneous casino gaming devices.

45 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to a processor, the non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that when executed by the processor cause the processor to implement an integration gateway that:

provides a stand-alone user interface for setup and maintenance of the casino gaming machines.

establishes cross-platform communication among heterogeneous casino gaming machines according to synchronous and asynchronous messaging models;

performs data transformations to manipulate and re-format platform-specific message data according to a synchronous messaging model; and

performs data transformations to manipulate and re-format platform specific message data according to an asynchronous messaging model.

46 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 45 wherein the messaging models supported by the integration gateway include one or more of a publish/subscribe messaging model, a point-to-point messaging model, and a request-reply messaging model.

47 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 45 wherein the heterogeneous casino gaming machines include legacy systems and newer products based on evolving technologies.

48 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 45 wherein messaging functions provided by the integration gateway include one or more of guaranteed message delivery, fast message delivery, receipt notification, transaction control, or a data persistence mechanism.

49 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 45 wherein the instructions stored thereon further include shared functions and interceptor services.

50 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 48 wherein the messaging functions utilize objects including one or more of connection factories, connections, sessions, producers, consumers, messages, or destinations.