Methods and systems for tracking an event of an externally controlled interface
A method for tracking an event of an externally controlled interface (ECI) is described. The method includes generating the externally controlled interface independent of an outcome of a wager-based game regulated by a regulatory authority, and logging the event of the externally controlled interface.
1. A method comprising:
executing, using at least one processor of a gaming machine, a first process configured to generate at least one state of a play of a wager-based game, wherein content of the at least one state of the play of the wager-based game is controlled by the at least one or processor;
receiving, at the at least one processor, a request from a remote host for control of a second process executed using the at least one processor;
granting the request from the remote host for control of the second process;
sending the remote host information describing gaming machine resources available for use by the second process;
executing, using the at least one processor, the second process to provide at least one state of an externally-controlled interface, wherein the second process is controlled by the remote host via instructions received from the remote host and the externally-controlled interface displays content distinct from the content associated with the play of the wager-based game;
storing information to a first non-volatile memory regarding the wager-based game, wherein the information regarding the wager-based game enables the at least one state of the play of the wager-based game to be regenerated at a later time; and
storing information to a second non-volatile memory regarding an event associated with the externally-controlled interface, wherein the information regarding the event enables the at least one state of the externally-controlled interface to be regenerated at a later time.
2. The method of claim 1 , including:
displaying the at least one state of the play of the wager-based game on a first portion of a video display;
displaying the at least one state of the externally controlled interface externally-controlled interface on a second portion of the video display;
timestamping the information regarding the wager-based game with a first timestamp;
timestamping the information regarding the event of the externally-controlled interface with a second timestamp;
associating the information regarding the wager-based game with the information regarding the event of the externally-controlled interface by comparing the first timestamp and the second timestamp; and
simultaneously redisplaying:
the at least one state of the play of the wager-based game based on the information regarding the wager-based game, and
the at least one state of the externally-controlled interface based on the information regarding the event.
3. The method of claim 2 , including resolving a dispute between a player and an entity by the synchronizing of the redisplay of the at least one state of the play of the wager-based game with the redisplay of the at least one state of the externally-controlled interface.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein:
the first non-volatile memory is in the gaming machine,
the second non-volatile memory is in the remote host,
the information regarding the wager-based game upon which the redisplay of the one or more states of the wager-based game is based is retrieved from the first non-volatile memory, and
the information regarding the event upon which the redisplay of the at least one state of the externally-controlled interface is based is retrieved from the second non-volatile memory.
5. The method of claim 1 , including:
displaying the at least one state of the play of the wager-based game on a mechanical reel;
displaying the at least one state of the externally-controlled interface on a video display; and
synchronizing a redisplay of the at least one state of the play of the wager-based game based on the information regarding the wager-based game with a redisplay of the at least one state of the externally-controlled interface based on the information regarding the event.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the storing the information regarding the wager-based game includes storing the information regarding the wager-based game at the same time as that of the storing the information regarding the event.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the storing the information regarding the wager-based game includes storing the information regarding the wager-based game at a different time than a time of the storing the information regarding the event.
8. A method of operating a gaming machine, the method comprising:
displaying a play of a wager-based game including a first series of states, wherein first information related to each state in the first series of states is stored to a first non-volatile memory prior to advancing to a subsequent state in the first series of states, wherein when a loss of power occurs between a first state in the first series of states and a second state in the first series of states, the gaming machine restores the first state using the first information stored to the first non-volatile memory associated with the first state;
generating an externally controlled interface on the gaming machine, wherein the generation includes generating a second series of states by utilizing instructions received from a remote host, wherein second information related to each state in the second series of states is stored to a second non-volatile memory prior to advancing to a subsequent state in the second series of states;
sending the remote host information describing resources available for use by the externally-controlled interface on the gaming machine; and
outputting visual content associated with each state in the second series of states to a video display device, wherein the outputted visual content is distinct from the displayed play of the wager-based game.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first non-volatile memory and the second non-volatile memory reside on a memory device located within a housing for the gaming machine.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second non-volatile memory is located within a housing for the gaming machine and a copy of at least a portion of the second information is stored in a third non-volatile memory located remote from the housing.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the second non-volatile memory is located in a memory device remote from the gaming machine.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first non-volatile memory or the second non-volatile memory is a battery-backed Random Access Memory.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein a portion of the first information and a portion of the second information is associated with both the first series of states and the second series of states.
14. The method of claim 8 , including:
logging first events associated with the first series of states;
logging second events associated with the second series of states;
determining a time sequence of events including the first events and the second events.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein each of the first events and each of the second events includes a time stamp.
16. The method of claim 8 , including:
generating a playback interface on the video display device;
receiving an input selection related to at least one previously-generated state in the second series of states; and
outputting first visual content related to the at least one previously-generated state to the video display device.
17. The method of claim 8 , including:
generating a playback interface on the video display device;
receiving an input selection related to at least one previously-generated state in the first series states; and
outputting first visual content related to the at least one previously-generated state.
18. The method of claim 8 , including:
generating a playback interface on the video display device;
receiving a first input selection related to a previously-generated state in the first series of states;
receiving a second input selection related to a previously-generated state in the second series of states;
outputting first visual content related to the previously-generated state in the first series of states; and
outputting second visual content related to the previously-generated state in the second series of states to the video display device.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first visual content is output to the video display device.
20. The method of claim 8 , including:
generating a playback interface on the video display device;
receiving an input selection related to a previously-generated state in the first series of states;
determining a previously-generated state in the second series of states related to the previously-generated state in the second series of states;
outputting first visual content related to the previously-generated state in the first series of states; and
outputting second visual content related to the previously-generated state in the second series of states to the video display device.
21. The method of claim 8 , including:
generating a playback interface on the video display device;
receiving an input selection related to a previously-generated state in the second series of states;
determining a previously-generated state in the first series of states related to the previously-generated state in the second series of states;
outputting first visual content related to the previously-generated state in the first series of states; and
outputting second visual content related to the previously-generated state in the second series of states to the video display device.
22. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the first non-volatile memory is in the gaming machine, and
the second non-volatile memory is in the remote host.