Modular casino service processing devices
A modular service station providing customizable casino services has a base module which provides base functionality and/or one or more secondary modules which are associated with the base module and implement secondary functionality to the base functionality. Different secondary modules may be associated with the base module, including in different physical arrangements, to generate modular service stations having different functionality. The base module and secondary modules include physical connection to join them into a unitary structure and communication connections to join them functionally.
1 . A modular casino service station comprising:
a base module, said base module comprising:
a housing;
a controller located in said housing;
at least one first connector associated with said housing; and
a first communication interface, said first communication interface in communication with said controller;
and
a secondary module, said secondary module comprising:
a housing;
at least one second connector associated with said housing and configured to connect to said at least one first connector; and
a second communication interface;
wherein said secondary module and said base module are selectively coupled by said at least one first connector and said at least one second connector so that said base module is adjacent to said secondary module, said second communication interface is communicatively coupled with said first communication interface;
wherein said housing of said base module and said housing of said secondary module are generally the same size and shape; and
wherein each of said base module and said secondary module comprise at least one of a currency dispenser module, a player loyalty interface module, a currency recycler module, a user interface module and a storage module.
2 . The modular casino service station in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said base module comprises a currency dispenser module and comprises a currency dispenser located in said housing of said base module.
3 . The modular casino service station in accordance with claim 2 , wherein said secondary module comprises a currency recycler module and comprises a currency recycler located in said housing of said secondary module.
4 . The modular casino service station in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said base module further comprises a power module and a power connector of said secondary module is connected to said power module of said base station to provide power to said secondary module.
5 . The modular casino service station in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said housing of said base module has a top and a first side and an opposing second side and said secondary module is connected to said first side or said second side of said housing of said base module.
6 . The modular casino service station in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said base module comprises a currency dispensing module having a currency dispenser opening located at a front of said housing of said base module between said first and second sides and below said top.
7 . The modular casino service station in accordance with claim 1 , further comprising a third module, said third module comprising a housing which is connected to said housing of said base module or said secondary module, and which comprises a third communication interface which is in communication with a secondary communication interface of either said base module or said secondary module.
8 . The modular casino service station in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said controller of said base module is communicatively coupled to an attendant station comprising at least one processor, a memory, a video display and a user input device.
9 . The modular casino service station in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said secondary module further comprises a controller and when said first communication interface is coupled to said second communication interface, said controller of said secondary module is in communication with said controller of said base module.
10 . A casino service station comprising:
a first modular casino service station comprising a first base module comprising a housing and at least one first casino service device located in said housing of said first base module and a first secondary module connected to said first base module, said first secondary module comprising a housing and at least one second casino service device located in said housing of said first secondary module, whereby said first modular casino service station is configured to implement first and second casino service functionalities by said at least one first casino service device and said at least one second casino service device; and
a second modular casino service station comprising a second base module having at least one third casino service device, and a second secondary module connected to said second base module, said second secondary module comprising at least one fourth casino service device located in a housing of said second base module, whereby said second modular casino service station is configured to implement first and third casino service functionalities by said at least one third casino service device and said at least one fourth casino service device.
11 . The casino service station in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said first and second base modules each comprise a currency dispensing module and said at least one first casino service device and said at least one third casino service device each comprises a currency dispenser.
12 . The casino service station in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said at least one second casino service device and said at least one fourth casino service device are selected from the group consisting of: a user input device, a currency recycler, a card dispenser, and a card reader.
13 . The casino service station in accordance with claim 10 , where said first base module comprises a controller, said at least one second casino service device of said first secondary module is communicatively coupled to said controller of said first base module, said second base module comprises a controller, and said at least one fourth casino service device of said second secondary module is communicatively coupled to said controller of said second base module.
14 . A modular casino service station comprising:
a base module, said base module comprising:
a housing;
a controller located in said housing;
at least one first connector associated with said housing; and
a first communication interface, said first communication interface in communication with said controller;
and
a secondary module, said secondary module comprising:
a housing;
at least one second connector associated with said housing and configured to connect to said at least one first connector; and
a second communication interface;
wherein said secondary module and said base module are selectively coupled by said at least one first connector and said at least one second connector so that said base module is adjacent to said secondary module, said second communication interface is communicatively coupled with said first communication interface;
wherein said housing of said base module comprises a plurality of selectively openable openings and said housing of said secondary module comprises one or more openings, at least one of said openings in said housing of said secondary module aligned with said one of said selectively openable openings of said base module; and
wherein each of said base module and said secondary module comprise at least one of a currency dispenser module, a player loyalty interface module, a currency recycler module, a user interface module and a storage module.
15 . The modular casino service station in accordance with claim 14 , wherein said base module comprises a currency dispenser module and comprises a currency dispenser located in said housing of said base module.
16 . The modular casino service station in accordance with claim 14 , wherein said housing of said base module has an upstanding first side and an upstanding second side, said housing of said secondary module has a third side positioned adjacent to said first side of said housing of said base module wherein one or more of said selectively openable openings are located in said first side of said housing of said base module and said one or more openings in said housing of said secondary module located in said third side.
17 . The modular casino service station in accordance with claim 16 , further comprising a third module comprising a housing and a third connector, said housing of said third module having a fourth side positioned adjacent to said second side of said housing of said base module and said third connector connected to at least one of said at least one first connector of said base module.