United States Patent (19)
`Sarbin et al.
`
`III US005179517A
`
`11) Patent Number:
`45
`Date of Patent:
`
`5,179,517
`Jan. 12, 1993
`
`54)
`
`75
`
`(73)
`
`(21)
`22
`51
`52
`58)
`
`(56)
`
`GAME MACHINE DATA TRANSFER
`SYSTEM UTLZNG PORTABLE DATA
`UNITS
`Inventors: Theodore R. Sarbin, Reno; Paul R.
`Brugger, Carson City; Walter H.
`Wellman, Sparks; Darryl E. Kuhns,
`Reno, all of Nev.
`Assignee: Bally Manufacturing Corporation,
`Chicago, Ill.
`Appl. No.: 247,983
`Filed:
`Sep. 22, 1988
`Int. Cl. .............................................. G06F 15/28
`U.S. Cl. .................................... 364/410; 273/435;
`340/706
`Field of Search ................ 364/410; 235/380, 375;
`273/435; 340/706, 700
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,004,133 1/1977 Hannan et al. ..................... 235/61.7
`4,072,930 2/1978 Lucero et al. ....
`... 340/152
`4,283,709 8/1981 Lucero et al. ....
`... 340/147
`4,304,990 12/1981 Atalla ............
`... 235/380
`4,352,011 9/1982 Guillou .........
`... 235/375
`4,373,134 2/1983 Grace et al.
`... 235/386
`4,491,725 1/1985 Pritchard ......
`... 235/375
`4,494,197 1/1985 Troy et al. ....
`... 364/412
`4,501,960 2/1985 Jouvet et al. .
`... 235/488
`4,511,796 4/1985 Aigo ..............
`... 235/492
`4,531,187 7/1985 Uhland.
`... 364/412
`4,532,419 7/1985 Takeda ..............
`... 235/492
`4,544,834 10/1985 Newport et al
`... 235/487
`4,575,621 3/1986 Dreifus ..........
`... 235/380
`4,575,622 3/1986 Pellegrini.
`... 235/.382
`... 364/412
`4,636,951 1/1987 Harlick ......
`... 235/.441
`4,675,516 1/1987 Guion ....
`4,725,924 2/1988 Juan .................................... 361/398
`
`
`
`4,727,246 2/1988 Hara et al. .......................... 235/488
`4,733,061 3/1988 Hegi .........
`... 235/492
`4,764,666 8/1988 Bergeron............................. 235/380
`4,864,116 9/1989 Banjo et al.......................... 235/.441
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2180460 7/1986 United Kingdom .
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`SDS-V (Slot Data System Five).
`Primary Examiner-Gail O. Hayes
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jenner & Block
`57
`ABSTRACT
`The data transfer system operates by collecting data
`from game machines and transferring said data to a
`smart card type data transfer unit containing memory,
`addressing, control, and protection circuitry. Depend
`ing on the level of capability desired, the card may or
`may not have microprocessor and encryption circuitry.
`Various embodiments include systems that store data
`regarding cash flow, security violations, machine mal
`functions, and volume of play attributable to an individ
`ual player, and transfer that data to a smart card for use
`in monitoring machine performance and determining
`the eligibility of a particular player to receive premiums
`as a play incentive. Additionally, either in concert with
`one or more of the above features or not the system can
`allow a player card to be used in lieu of cash to play
`game machines. In this instance, the player card can
`either be used as a pre-paid debit card, or as a credit
`card in which case money is collected from the player
`after he has played. Player cards can be used as a means
`of paying winnings to the player in any of these embodi
`ments, with the player redeeming winnings and unused
`play entitlements at a cashier's station.
`87 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jan. 12, 1993
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`Sheet 1 of 3
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`U.S. Patent
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`5,179,517
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`LINT BOV-!!!ELNI
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`LIÑO!!!0
`ELIMINA / QVE!!!
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jan. 12, 1993
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`Sheet 3 of 3
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`5,179,517
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`Page 4
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`1.
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`GAME MACHINE DATA TRANSFER SYSTEM
`UTILIZING PORTABLE DATA UNTS
`
`O
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`TECHNICAL FIELD
`The invention relates to the field of coin-operated
`amusement and gaming machine systems and in particu
`lar to systems for transferring data to and from such
`game machines.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`For several years, the automation of accounting and
`security functions having to do with coin-operated
`gaming machines has been shown to be a desirable and
`cost-effective method of obtaining accurate and timely
`data concerning the operation of these machines. In
`recent years, the automated accumulation of data con
`cerning individual players, either in conjunction with
`the accounting and security information or without it,
`20
`has also shown itself to be desirable as an effective mar
`keting technique. Treating players in much the same
`manner as the airlines treat members of their "fragment
`flyer" clubs, game machine proprietors can, by keeping
`an accounting of the amount a player spends in their
`establishment, reward the patron accordingly. Also, by
`25
`enrolling the player as a "preferred customer,' the es
`tablishment can obtain a name and address, as well as
`certain other biographical and demographic data which
`is useful in the maintaining of a mailing list and other
`marketing efforts. There are also instances wherein the
`30
`use of a player-carried device such as a magnetic-stripe
`card such as the card shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,575,622
`can be used to enable players to use coin-operated game
`devices by paying a lump sun in lieu of using individual
`coins. In these cases, the card is the means of identifying
`the player, while the actual accounting of play takes
`place in a central computer electronically connected to
`the gaming machines.
`Another important function of gaming machine data
`transfer systems is to provide accounting and security
`information to casino operators. Most of these applica
`tions have in the past required the gaming machines to
`be directly connected to the central computer. Exam
`ples of such gaming machine data transfer systems are
`provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,072,930, 4,283,709 and
`45
`4,636,951. This usually entails a large computer equip
`ment installation, and the installation of an extensive
`network of data communication cables and associated
`equipment. And, since the central computer is usually
`connected to a large number of gaming machines, in
`some cases up to 2000 or more machines in a real time
`data communication configuration, a powerful and
`hence expensive central computer is required. Another
`disadvantage of these systems arises from the fact that
`the distance that the data can be transmitted is usually,
`55
`as a practical matter, limited, thus the central computer
`is usually restricted to the same premises as the gaming
`machines. As a result, these electronic gaming machine
`information systems tend to be limited to gaming opera
`tions where a relatively large number of machines are
`located in close proximity to each other.
`One approach to solving these problems was at
`tempted in the SDSV system developed by Bally Sys
`tems Division of Bally Manufacturing Corporation in
`which a portable data recording unit having a micro
`processor and limited semiconductor memory was used
`to collect data from slot machines. The data thus col
`lected by an employee of the machine owner was trans
`
`5,179,517
`2
`ferred to a central data system when the recording unit
`was connected to a data input device in the central
`system. However, this approach suffered from a num
`ber of deficiencies including limitations in the type and
`amounts of data that could be collected, no capability to
`collect player information and no ability to transfer
`information to the slot machine.
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a
`player or employee carried data unit along with a gam
`ing machine interface that will permit the transmittal of
`player information and gaming machine information
`between gaming machines and a central data system.
`It is a further object of the invention to provide a
`player carried data unit containing player account and
`win information along with player identification infor
`mation that can be used to transmit player account
`information to a gaming machine and to receive from
`the gaming machine and transmit to a central data sys
`ten player game play and gaming machine information.
`It is an additional object of the invention to provide
`the data unit with data memory to store machine infor
`mation and to receive from the gaming machine identifi
`cation data identifying the machine along with machine
`data that can also be used as input to the central data
`system.
`It is another object of the invention to provide an
`employee carried data unit that is capable of receiving
`from a game machine machine identification, along
`with dated machine identification, play and status data
`that can be used as input to a central data system.
`It is still another object of the invention to provide
`the employee data unit with the capability to store ma
`chine control information and to input this information
`to selected gaming machines.
`It is a further object of the invention to provide a
`portable data unit having a data memory and a micro
`processor for physically transporting data representing
`player play data including credit and win data along
`with gaming machine operation data between a number
`of gaming machines and a central data system where the
`data memory contains data indicating whether a player
`is entitled to play incentives. The microprocessor can be
`used to increase the security of the overall system by
`encrypting and decrypting data entered into or read
`from the data memory.
`The method by which the communication of data
`from the gaming machines to the central computer and
`vice versa is accomplished is by use of a portable data
`carrier, typically referred to as a "smart card.' These
`devices are generally in the shape and size of a standard
`credit card, and contain solid-state memory, as well as
`circuitry to enable the memory to be written to, read
`from, and otherwise manipulated. In addition, some of
`these devices contain microprocessor circuitry, and are
`capable of data access control, data encryption, data
`decryption, and various other related tasks. Examples
`of such devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos.
`4,675,516, 4,725,924, 4,727,246, 4,733,061 and 4,764,666.
`Another very significant advantage of the invention
`relates to the fact that the function of the large central
`computer system can be replaced by a smaller minicom
`puter, or in some cases by one or more desktop personal
`computers. Since the need for real-time on-line commu
`nication with all the game machines does not exist in
`this application, the data processing functions of the
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`system can be handled easily by the smaller computer
`process the data; reading and writing data into memory
`26 and transmitting data and control signals via the
`system. Also, since the communication of data from the
`game machines to the computer system is not limited by
`interface circuit 28 to the external devices.
`a network of data communication cables, game ma
`In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the circuit elements 22,
`chines need not be on the same premises as, or even in
`26 and 28 are mounted on a bottom sheet 34 and cov
`the near vicinity of, the computer system.
`ered or sealed within the unit 20 by a cover sheet 36
`with a portion 38 left open to provide access to the
`A further advantage of the invention flows from the
`contacts 32. Preferably the data unit 20 has outer dimen
`elimination of the data communication hardware and
`the large central computer as discussed above so that
`sions that correspond to a standard credit card. Exam
`the automation of the accounting, security, and player
`ples of various types of structures that can be used for
`O
`tracking functions can now be made available even to
`the portable data unit 20 are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos.
`very small establishments and to operators that have
`4,725,924, 4,727,246, 4,733,061 and 4,764,666.
`small numbers or widely dispersed gaming machines
`Although the preferred embodiment of the portable
`which could not otherwise justify the cost of such a
`data unit 20 has been described above in terms of an IC
`system.
`card or smart card, other configurations or structures
`that provide a data memory along with a data process
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`ing capability arranged in a conveniently portable pack
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine;
`age could serve as well.
`FIG. 2 is a partially cut away perspective view of a
`Use of the data unit 20 with the gaming machine 10 is
`portable data transfer unit;
`facilitated by an interface unit 40 secured within the
`FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a gaming
`housing of the gaming machine 10 as shown in FIG. 3.
`Although the preferred embodiment of the invention in
`machine interface circuit for use with the data transfer
`unit of FIG. 2 along with a portion of the gaming ma
`FIG. 1 shows the interface unit 40 secured within the
`chine circuitry;
`machine 10, the machine 10 can also include the inter
`face unit 40 by attaching it as a separate unit to the
`FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a central data
`25
`processing system for use with the data transfer unit of
`exterior of the machine's 10 housing. A read/write unit
`42 receives the data unit 20 via a slot 44 configured in
`FIG. 2;
`FIG. 5 is a diagram of memory organization for a
`the housing of the gaming machine 10. The read/write
`player data transfer unit;
`circuit 42 contains contacts corresponding to the
`FIG. 6 is a diagram of memory organization for a
`contacts 32 of the data unit 20 along with conventional
`signal interface and buffering circuitry. Additionally
`machine data transfer unit; and
`FIG. 7 is a diagram of a download data transfer unit.
`included in the interface unit is a microprocessor 46
`connected to the read/write unit 42 by data and control
`OETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`lines represented by a line 48 and a random access mem
`INVENTION
`ory 50 along with a read only memory 52 that contains
`35
`In FIG. 1 is provided a view of a typical gaming
`control instructions for the processor 46. A clock-callen
`machine 10. The machine 10 as represented in FIG. 1 is
`dar circuit 53 is also connected to the processor 46.
`a slot machine which in normal operation accepts a coin
`Since the preferred embodiment of the invention is
`or token in a slot 12 and responds to a pull on a handle
`described within the context of a microprocessor based
`14 by a player by depositing one or more coins in a coin
`slot machine 10, the interface unit 40 also includes a
`40
`tray 16 if a winning play is registered. A win or lose
`machine element interface circuit 54 and a machine
`indication is provided to the player by a display 18 that
`processor interface circuit 56 connected to the proces
`in a slot machine normally takes the form of a group of
`sor 46 by data and control lines represented by lines 58
`mechanical reels or a video display. Although the gam
`and 60 respectively. The slot machine 10 includes, as
`shown in FIG. 3, a microprocessor 62 that communi
`ing machine 10 shown in FIG. 1 is a slot machine, it
`45
`should be understood that the invention can be equally
`cates with the machine processor interface 56 via a data
`applied to a wide variety of casino-type gaming ma
`bus 64. As is conventional with microprocessor based
`gaming machines including video poker and other types
`chines including video poker and 21 machines as well as
`other coin operated amusement games.
`of gaming machines, the microprocessor 62 controls the
`FIG. 2 provides a partially cut away view of the
`operation of the machine 10. Slot machines of the type
`preferred embodiment of a portable data transfer unit
`shown in FIG. 3 also have a number of discrete signal
`20. The data unit 20 includes a microprocessor 22 con
`sources that represent the status of the machine. Repre
`sentative examples of status signals generated in the slot
`nected by data lines 24 to a number of non-volatile
`machine 10 are: drop door status 66, slot door status 68,
`random access semiconductor memories 26. Micro
`a coin in signal 70, a coin out signal 72 and a handle pull
`processor 22 is connected to an interface circuit 28 by a
`55
`group of data and control lines indicated generally at
`signal 74. The signal sources 66-74 are connected to the
`30. Communication to external devices is facilitated by
`machine element interface 54 by a series of lines repre
`sented for simplicity by a single line 76.
`a group of contacts 32 connected to the interface circuit
`28, Preferably, these contacts conform to an industry
`The preferred embodiment of the interface unit 40
`additionally includes a display 78 which is connected to
`standard such as ISO/DIS 7816/1 and 78161/2 and
`60
`include contacts for: chip select signals; clock input
`the microprocessor 46 by a conventional set of data,
`signals; a data input signal; a data output signal; a power
`address and control lines as represented by a line 80.
`supply input; a status input signal, a ground line and a
`Also, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the data transfer system
`memory type signal.
`includes a central data processor 82 to perform general
`casino accounting functions and which receives the
`The circuit elements 22, 26 and 28 can in effect func
`65
`tion as a small computer system by, for example: accept
`data unit 20 in a system interface circuit 84. The inter
`ing data and control signals from external devices con
`face circuit 84 includes contacts and a read/write cir
`nected to contacts 32; using the microprocessor 22 to
`cuit (not shown) which is similar in operation to the
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`read/write circuit 42 of FIG. 3. The system of FIG. 4
`By the same token, the information in the field 98 can be
`used by the casino employee using terminal 86 to pay or
`can also have one or more data input terminals 86 and
`displays 88. Depending upon circumstances such as the
`credit the player when the card is redeemed or pres
`ented for payment.
`number and locations of gaming machines 10 and the
`Since security is an extremely important consider
`functions to be performed by the central data process
`ing system of FIG. 4, the preferred embodiment of the
`ation in casino operations, the memory 90 can also in
`hardware arrangement will vary. For example, in some
`clude an encryption data field 100 which can contain
`encryption keys or algorithms. As will be described in
`instances where a large number of machines 10 are
`being administered in a centralized accounting system
`more detail later, the data in field 100 can be used by the
`the central data processor 82 would be a minicomputer
`interface unit 40 to ensure that the card 20 is an autho
`with one or more terminals 86 directly connected to the
`rized card. Also the data in the other fields of the mem
`computer 82 in the same location. On the other hand,
`ory 90 can be encrypted such as the debit/credit field 98
`in order for example to discourage players from taking
`where a fewer number of gaming machines 10 are to be
`administered or a more decentralized accounting sys
`the card 20 home to increase on their own the value of
`tem is used, one or more personal computers can be
`the credits in that field.
`After the player card 20 having memory organization
`used for the data processor 82, terminal 86 and display
`88. Where it is desired to use more than one personal
`90 is initiated, it is ready for use with the gaming ma
`computer to perform the functions of the system of
`chine 10. The player will insert the card 20 into the
`FIG. 4, and it is considered important to maintain cen
`read/write circuit 42 of the interface unit 40 as shown in
`tralized control of the gaming data and transactions, a
`FIG. 3 via slot 44. The read/write circuit 42 is under the
`control of the microprocessor 46 and causes this circuit
`data communication network such as a local area net
`work can be used to operatively tie the computers 82
`46 to transmit to the microprocessor 22 on the card 20
`together.
`the appropriate instructions so that the identifying data
`in fields 92 and 94 are transmitted to the processor 46.
`In any event, the system as illustrated in FIGS. 1-4
`provides substantially enhanced flexibility along with
`Depending upon the level of security desired the pro
`25
`increased operational capabilities in a gaming machine
`cessor can also access encryption keys or passwords
`from field 100 to use with an encryption algorithm or
`data and control system while at the same time reduces
`password procedure stored for example in ROM 52 to
`hardware requirements and costs.
`Operation of the system of FIGS. 1-4 will now be
`determine if the card 20 is authorized. The information
`described in connection with the memory diagrams of
`stored in field 100 can additionally include access con
`30
`trol codes and codes defining the functions and access
`FIGS. 5-7. With reference to FIG. 5 which illustrates
`the data organization in the memory 26 in a first em
`capabilities of the card 20. Alternatively the card micro
`processor 22 can encrypt using, for example, one of the
`bodiment 90 of the portable data unit 20 of FIG. 2 for
`use by a player, the data unit or card 20 at the time that
`NBS encryption standards the data being transmitted to
`it is first issued to a player by a casino or game operator
`the processor 46 and the processor 46 can in turn use a
`matching algorithm to decrypt the data.
`is inserted into the system interface 84 of the central
`system of FIG. 4. At this point the various data fields in
`Once the card 20 has established communication with
`the interface unit 40 and been identified as a player type
`the memory 90 are initialized.
`m
`A first field 92 is loaded with data indicating the type
`card, the interface unit 40 will make available to the
`of card and an identification number for that particular
`gaming machine 10 the debit or credit information con
`card 20. As will be described below, there are a number
`tained in card field 98. In the embodiment shown in
`of different types of cards 20 that can be employed by
`FIG. 3, this information is transmitted by way of the
`this system. At this time data identifying the player is
`machine interface 56 to the gaming machine micro
`processor 62. In gaming machines of this type the player
`also written into a data field 94. This information is
`particularly important due to the fact that many casinos
`has the option of selecting by means of a control button
`45
`base their marketing programs around the amount of
`or switch indicated at 101 on the machine housing 10,
`credit or coin operation.
`activity of individual players or customers and as such it
`is very useful to be able to track the amount of play
`One of the more significant features of the invention
`is a comprehensive player tracking capability. As the
`activity of each player. In this manner, for example,
`player operates the machine, data representing game
`premiums and bonuses can be awarded to particularly
`active players thereby encouraging further play on the
`play is transmitted by the interface unit to the memory
`part of the individual. In addition, this information can
`90 of the card 20. For example, the identification of the
`be used to compile lists of preferred customers which is
`machine being played is stored in a data field 104 as
`useful from a marketing standpoint.
`shown in FIG. 5. In the preferred embodiment of the
`invention the identification of the last ten machines 10
`Another data field 96 can be used to store casino or
`played are stored in fields 104. In addition, specific
`card data such as an identification of the casino, the
`information relating to the games played is also stored
`location of the issuing system, player account number
`and the number of times that the particular card 20 has
`in card memory 90. In the embodiment shown in FIG.
`5, eight data fields indicated generally at 106 are pro
`been used,
`vided to store information relating to player activity.
`In the event that the card 20 is to be used as a debit or
`a credit card to play the gaming machines 10, that infor
`Here, there is one field 106 for each denomination:
`nickel, dime, quarter, half-dollar, dollar, $5, $25 and
`mation is loaded into a debit/credit field 98 by a casino
`employee using the terminal 86. If the card 20 is used as
`$100. Within each field 106there is a group of subfields
`for storing the number of: coins played 108, coins paid
`a debit card the employee accepts payment and loads
`the appropriate monetary value in the field 98 or if the
`out 110 the number of games played 112 and the number
`of coins paid by attendants 114 for each denomination.
`card 20 is to be used as a credit card, the employee
`authorizes the amount of credit that the particular
`Also, the time of play in minutes for that denomination
`player is entitled to and loads that amount into field 98.
`is stored in a subfield 116. It will be understood, of
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`transmitted from the machine processor 62 through the
`course, that the amount and types of data stored in the
`game play fields such as 106 of memory 90 can be varied
`interface unit to data field 98. The credit or debit status,
`to suit a particular casino operating environment. In
`which can be termed account status, as reflected in field
`98 is provided to the player by the display 78 which is
`addition to the play data discussed above the memory
`controlled by the processor 46.
`90 contains a data field 118 to store information relating
`to the jackpots or other major prizes won by the play
`A related feature of the interface unit 40 is the ability
`to provide information on the display 78 in addition to
`eS,
`the player's debit or credit balance. For example, using
`In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the
`the data stored in memory 90, the processor 46 can
`interface unit 40 performs the calculations necessary to
`display the player's name in a personalized welcoming
`compute the players bonus or premium award status
`message along with other player specific information
`and stores that status in a bonus data field 102 in the
`such as any bonuses or prizes he may be entitled to as
`card memory 90. The bonus status can be based on a
`wide variety of information and criteria such as the
`indicated in data field 102.
`The use of the portable data transfer unit 20 has a
`number of games or time the machine 10 is played as
`number of very significant advantages in collecting data
`received from the machine processor 62 along with
`regarding gaming machine operation and security as
`other data obtained from the card memory 90. For
`well. As shown in FIG. 6, a portion 120 of the card
`example, player bonus status can be calculated on the
`memory 26 can be configured to collect data relating to
`player's "volume of play' which can include one or
`machine operation. Although the memory 120 as shown
`more of the following factors: coins played, number of
`handle pulls, amount won, length of time played, pay
`in FIG. 6 is structured for a particular type of card 20,
`it should be understood that the data organization could
`outs, length of time played without a win, etc. Use of
`be incorporated into other types of cards such as the
`the processor 46 in the interface unit 40 to perform this
`player card 20 of FIG. 5. For purposes of this descrip
`function has a number of advantages including immedi
`tion the data fields in FIGS. 5-7 that contain similar
`ate access to relevant information about the individual
`player and a complete operational separation and non
`types of data will have the same reference numerals.
`25
`With respect to FIG. 6, if the card 20 containing
`interference with the operation of the gaming machine
`memory 120 is an employee issued card data field 92
`10.
`will reflect that fact and data field 94 will contain the
`The use of the card or data transfer unit 20 enhances
`the data gathering ability of the gaming machine data
`employee's identification. In the embodiment of the
`memory organization 120, shown in FIG. 6, there are a
`transfer system when the player redeems the card 20.
`Typically the player will hand the card 20 to a casino
`group of data fields indicated at 122 each of which
`corresponds to a particular gaming machine. The data
`employee who will insert the card 20 into the system
`interface 84 of the central data system of FIG. 4. Upon
`fields 122 are each divided into a number of subfields.
`receiving and verifying the data from card 20 the cen
`When the card 20 is inserted into the interface unit 40
`tral data processor 82 can, either automatically or at the
`the processor 46 will write the gaming machine 10 iden
`35
`request of an employee operating the terminal 86, clear
`tification in a first subfield 124. During normal opera
`tion of the gaming machine 10 accounting and security
`selected portions of memory 90, thus preparing the card
`20 for future data collection. The system of FIG. 4 can
`data is transmitted via the machine element interface 54
`also display on display 88 or print out reports on infor
`and the processor interface 56 to the interface processor
`46 and stored in the memory 50. Preferably this data is
`mation and calculations based on the data thus col
`time and date stamped by the processor 46. After the
`lected. At this point the player, based on the data dis
`card 20 has been verified by processor 46 and the ma
`played, can receive payment or credit derived from the
`information on the card 20. In particular, the player's
`chine identification stored in the subfield 124, the pro
`individual account status is printed out or displayed on
`cessor 46 will write machine accounting information
`display 88 so that the casino employee can determine
`such as: the number of coins played into a subfield 126;
`45
`what prizes, premiums or awards that the player may be
`the number of coins in the gaming machine 10 cash box
`into a subfield 128; the number of coins paid out by the
`entitled to. If such awards are made by the employee,
`machine 10 into a subfield 130; the number of games
`this information is entered into the system of FIG. 4 via
`played for card-type gaming machines or handle pulls
`the terminal 86 resulting in a decrementing of the bonus
`for slot type gaming machines into a subfield 132 and
`data in field 102 of card memory 90. As with the inter
`the number of coins paid by attendants to players into a
`face unit 40, it is the system interface 84, which is func
`subfield 134. Similarly, security information such as the
`tionally similar in construction to interface 40, that
`actually performs the reading from, writing to and
`number of gaming machine door openings will be writ
`clearing of card memory 90.
`ten into a subfield 136; the number of coin hopper jams
`Cashless gaming is also facilitated by use of the card
`will be written into a subfield 138 and the number of
`blackouts, that is interruptions of electrical power to the
`20 in combination with the system of FIGS. 3 and 4.
`When the player is issued a card 20 or presents a previ
`machine 10, will be written into a subfield 140. Also, the
`ously issued card to a casino employee, the employee
`last ten security events such as tilts and illegal pays
`recorded in the memory 50 will be written into a sub
`will insert the card 20 into the system interface 84 and
`by using the terminal 86 updates the debit or credit
`field 142. Along with the data as described above appro
`60
`balance in field 98 of card memory 90. Upon receipt of
`priate date-time information corresponding to th