United States Patent (19)
`LeStrange et al.
`
`IIII III IIII
`US005470079A
`11
`Patent Number:
`5,470,079
`45) Date of Patent:
`Nov. 28, 1995
`
`GAME MACHINE ACCOUNTING AND
`MONITORNG SYSTEM
`A
`Inventors: Miss Mistriate
`Richard C. Raven, deceased, late of
`Reno, both of Nev., by Barbara B.
`Raven, administratrix
`Assignee: Bally Gaming International, Inc., Las
`Vegas, Nev.
`
`54
`
`75)
`
`73)
`
`21
`(22)
`51
`52)
`58
`
`(56)
`
`5,326,104 7/1994 Pease et al. ......................... 273/138 A
`5,332,076 7/1994 Ziegert .................................... 194/217
`Primary Examiner-Jessica J. Harrison
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Jenner & Block
`57
`ABSTRACT
`hi
`A
`d
`A gaming machine accounting and monitoring system
`includes a plurality of accumulative, non-resettable account
`ing meters and an event processor for sensing game activity
`at the gaming machine and updating the accounting meters
`in response thereto. The system also includes separate game
`credit meters for storing the total amount of game credit
`available and the amount of game credit purchased but not
`Appl. No.: 260,587
`yet risked by the player. The accounting meters include
`Filed:
`Jun. 16, 1994
`meters for tracking wagering activity and machine payouts,
`and a plurality of drop meters for tracing monetary value
`Int. Cl. .................... G06F 15/28: A63F 9/24
`U.S. Cl. ......................................................... 273/138 A accepted by the gaming machine in all of its different forms.
`Field of Search ........................... 273/138A, 85 CP;
`In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the
`364/410-412; 194/206-210, 215-217; 235/380,
`accounting meters also include a set of meters for tracing
`381
`data card transactions for cashless game play. These data
`card meters include separate meters for tracking game credit
`purchased with a data card and gaming machine payouts
`References Cited
`to a data card account. The accounting system can
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`e used on a variety of gaming machines including video
`lottery systems which contain multiple games that can be
`4,072,930 2/1978 Lucero et al. .......................... 340/52
`independently selected by the player. In accordance with this
`4,283,709 8/1981 Lucero et al. .
`... 340/147
`aspect of the invention, the system includes a game identifier
`4,689,757 8/1987 Downing et al. ....................... 364,550
`that uniquely identifies the current game in play, and a
`4,764,666 8/1988 Bergeron ................................. 235/380
`38: SS t
`& w
`5. mechanism for sensing a change of game at the gaming
`S556 is SNES.".
`... E. machine. In response to this change of game event, the
`5,179,517
`1/1993 Sarbin et al............................. 36.40
`system updates the game identifier and saves the accumu
`5,222,583
`6/1993 Bergmann et al. ..................... 194/2O6
`lations of meter data representing game play for the previous
`5,277,424 1/1994 Wilms ............
`273/85 CP
`game.
`5,290,033 3/1994 Bittner et al. ......
`. 273/138A
`5,321,241 6/1994 Craine ..................................... 235/380
`
`46 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`
`
`45
`
`46
`48
`
`50
`52
`
`GAME CHANGE
`
`COLLECT
`
`
`
`MONEY
`NSERTED
`
`26
`
`
`
`
`
`33
`
`
`
`BiLL COUNT
`DROP
`PROMO
`DROP
`DEBT CARD
`DROP
`COIN SALE
`DROP
`ABA
`CREDIT IN
`
`CREDIT OUT
`CREDT CARD
`CREDIT IN
`CREDIT CARD
`CREDIT OUT
`
`3
`
`GAME
`PyMETER 139
`GAME
`37
`OUT METER
`s
`
`EGEND:
`
`------ 1985:33.
`DENOM, METERS
`PATH FOR CREDT PLAY
`PATH FORCASALESSPLAYL
`PATH FOR CON PAY
`
`EVERI EX. 1018; Page 1
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28, 1995
`
`Sheet 1 of 8
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`5,470,079
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`EVERI EX. 1018; Page 2
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28, 1995
`
`Sheet 2 of 8
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`5,470,079
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`EVERI EX. 1018; Page 3
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28, 1995
`
`Sheet 3 of 8
`
`5,470,079
`
`
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`INCREMENT
`CON DROP
`METER
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`NCREMENT
`GAME PLAY
`METER
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`108
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`INCREMENT
`GAME OUT
`METER
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`HOPPER
`PAYOUT
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`RETURN
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`F. G. 3
`
`EVERI EX. 1018; Page 4
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Noy. 28, 1995
`
`Sheet 4 of 8
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`Page 5
`EVERI EX. 1018
`9
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
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`EVERI EX. 1018; Page 5
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
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`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28, 1995
`
`Sheet 5 of 8
`
`5,470,079
`
`(FROM FIG. 4A)
`
`212
`
`214
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`DECREMENT
`GAME CREDIT
`METER
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`GAME PLAY
`METER
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`INCREMENT
`METER
`
`RETURN
`
`F G. 4B
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`EVERI EX. 1018; Page 6
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28, 1995
`
`Sheet 6 of 8
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`Page 7
`EVERI EX. 1018
`9
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
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`EVERI EX. 1018; Page 7
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
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`
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28, 1995
`
`Sheet 7 of 8
`
`5,470,079
`
`(FROM FIG. 5A)
`
`310
`
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`GAME CREDT
`METER
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`DECREMENT
`RESIDUAL CREDIT
`METER
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`34
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`METER
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`
`NCREMENT
`ABA OR CREDIT
`CARD OUT METER
`
`NCREMENT
`CASH WOUCHER
`METER
`
`RETURN
`
`F G. 5B
`
`32OC
`
`EVERI EX. 1018; Page 8
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Nov. 28, 1995
`
`sheets of 8
`
`5,470,079
`
`400
`
`4O2
`
`4O4.
`
`4O6
`
`4.08
`
`START
`
`RECEIVE EVENT MSG
`SET CURRENT GAME
`D AND CURRENT
`METER DATA
`
`RETRIEVE PREVIOUS
`GAME ID AND
`PREVIOUS METER
`DATA
`
`COMPUTE CHANGE IN
`METER DATA=
`(CURRENT-PREVIOUS)
`
`ADD CHANGES IN
`METER DATA TO
`ACCUMULATED METER
`DATA AND STORE
`
`STORE CURRENT
`GAME ID AND
`METER DATA
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`RETURN
`
`F G. 6
`
`EVERI EX. 1018; Page 9
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

`

`1.
`GAME MACHINE ACCOUNTING AND
`MONITORING SYSTEM
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`The invention relates to gaming machine systems, and
`more particularly to a system for monitoring gaming
`machine activity and for providing gaming machine
`accounting data.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
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`40
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`45
`
`30
`
`5,470,079
`2
`dollar bills or credit from a credit card into a gaming
`machine and cash out immediately without placing any bets.
`In this case, the game credit purchased and cashed in by a
`player has never become part of game activity. Because not
`all coins dispensed by a gaming machine are the result of
`game winnings, monitoring game activity is no longer a
`simple matter of tracing coin outflows and coin inflows.
`Accordingly, the calculation of hopper level and game win
`percentage must take into account "vended credits', i.e.,
`credits purchased but not risked
`The failure to account for vended credits means that game
`win percentage calculations can be compromised when, for
`example, a note or credit card acceptor is added to a coin
`gaming machine. In many of these retrofit installations,
`when the gaming machine accepts currency other than coin,
`a meter which counts coin inflows is incremented. Similarly,
`when the player cashes out, a meter which counts coin
`outflows is incremented. However, because the player can
`now collect the credits purchased without risking any of the
`credits in a wager, the coin outflow meter does not reflect
`actual game activity. Therefore, the traditional calculation of
`game win percentage based on the ratio of coin inflow to
`coin outflow is improperly inflated.
`Furthermore, video lottery systems, comprising many
`different games within a single cabinet, can create problems
`for typical accounting methods. Ideally, the accounting
`system should calculate game win percentage for each of the
`games because the theoretical win percentage may be dif
`ferent for each game. Thus, game accounting data must be
`maintained separately for each game. One way this has been
`accomplished is to provide separate accounting meters for
`each game in the cabinet. However, this solution requires a
`reconfiguration of the accounting system whenever games
`are added to the machine or the games within the machine
`are reordered. Although more flexibility could be added by
`allocating excess meter sets for each machine, this solution
`creates undesirable overhead. Moreover, one must still
`reconfigure the system when the games are reordered.
`To further complicate the accounting problem, rules
`established by many gaming regulatory commissions
`require that all gaming locations account separately for all of
`the different forms of monetary value that can be accepted
`by modern gaming machines. Specifically, most jurisdic
`tions require a complete audit of all wagers found in the coin
`and currency cash boxes. In machines equipped with coupon
`readers, the currency box may contain bar coded coupons of
`varying amounts in addition to cash. In the case of cashless
`wagers (e.g., those placed from player charge accounts),
`there may be no physical equivalent in either box. Yet the
`gaming locations's accounting system must provide an audit
`trail for each of these betting instruments. In addition, the
`rules require a separate accounting of the different forms of
`machine payouts. For example, where machine payouts are
`in the form of printed vouchers, the vouchers will be
`redeemed and stored at the redemption locations. Because
`the vouchers are relatively easy to forge or duplicate, the
`accounting system must also provide a record of these
`tickets against which payment can be made. To date,
`accounting system methodologies do not provide a conve
`nient and unified mechanism for auditing betting activity in
`all of these different forms.
`Therefore, there is a need for a fully general game
`accounting and monitoring system that keeps accurate game
`accounting data and maintains audit trails of gaming activity
`independent of the type of gaming machine and the forms of
`monetary value used by the gaming machine. In addition,
`there is a need for a game accounting and monitoring system
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`Most gambling casinos and other gaming locations con
`tain a large number of gaming machines which typically
`accept one or more coins as wagers and dispense winnings
`in coin from a hopper. Because there is a constant inflow and
`outflow of currency through such machines, it is important
`to keep careful and accurate records of game activity, such
`as the total machine payout, the value of wagers placed at the
`20
`machine and the value of any currency used to purchase
`credits for wagering. Moreover, gambling regulatory com
`missions in many jurisdictions require casino operators to
`keep very specific accounting data with regard to their
`gaming machines. Therefore, it has been desirable to auto
`mate gaming machine accounting to improve reliability and
`reduce costs.
`Traditionally, slot machines and other types of gambling
`machines accepted and dispensed only coins. For these
`machines, the game accounting problem is greatly simpli
`fied. Coin input by the user always becomes part of game
`activity, i.e., players risk all of the coins they insert into the
`machine. Therefore, game activity could be monitored sim
`ply by tracking coin inflows and outflows from the machine.
`In addition, the change in the level of coins in the coin
`payout hopper, which is impractical to measure directly,
`could be inferred quite easily by subtracting the sum of the
`total game outflow and the total number of coins diverted to
`the game's drop bucket from the total number of coins
`inserted in the machine. Similarly, the calculation of game
`win percentage is given by the ratio of coin outflow to coin
`inflow.
`Today, the increased sophistication of gaming machine
`technology has greatly increased player options. For
`example, gaming machines have been devised which can
`accept currency in forms other than coin. An example of a
`gaming machine that is equipped with a bill acceptor for
`accepting paper currency is 10 described in U.S. Pat. No.
`5,113,990. Indeed, gaming machine technology has
`advanced to such a stage that it is now possible for gaming
`machines to accept items of monetary value in forms other
`than cash. For example, slot machines and video gaming
`machines are now being built which are equipped with
`magnetic card readers or smart card readers that can accept
`monetary credit from a player account stored on casino
`55
`credit cards, or from the player's commercial credit card. An
`example of such a gaming machine is disclosed in U.S. Pat.
`No. 5,038,022. In such machines, winnings can be credited
`to the card instead of being paid out in coin. Other forms of
`cashless gaming machines available today include machines
`that accept bar coded coupons and video lottery machines
`that offer many games, often of various kinds, within a
`single cabinet and which pay winnings on printed vouchers
`issued by the machine.
`The addition of these new forms of wagering and payout
`instruments has greatly complicated the machine accounting
`problem. For example, it is now possible for a player to input
`
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`EVERI EX. 1018; Page 10
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
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`

`3
`that can accurately calculate the hopper level and game win
`percentage based on accounting data for all varieties of
`gaming machines.
`
`5,470,079
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a game
`accounting and monitoring system and method that over
`comes the limitations of the prior art. More specifically, it is
`an object of the invention to provide a gaming machine
`monitoring and accounting system and method that records
`gaming activity regardless of the forms of monetary value
`used, and also provides accurate accounting data, including
`accurate totals of hopper level and game win percentage.
`Furthermore, the accounting methods described herein can
`be easily adapted for use on traditional gaming machine
`designs as well as the more advanced gaming machines
`available today.
`In accordance with the present invention, the game moni
`toring and accounting system includes a plurality of meters
`for tracking important game quantities and an event proces
`sor for sensing the state of the gaming machine and updating
`the meters accordingly. These meters include several accu
`mulative, non-resettable "drop' meters, one for each of the
`differentforms of monetary value acceptable by the gaming
`machine, for tracking the total amount of that form of money
`accepted and, where applicable, returned by the machine. In
`addition, accumulative game activity meters track the
`wagers placed and the payouts made, respectively, by each
`game within the gaming machine. The accounting system
`will correctly update the game activity meters even for older
`style gaming machines that may not provide an external
`signal representing, for example, the total winnings gener
`ated by the machine. Consequently, the accounting system
`can be used with any kind of gaming machine including
`traditional coin only games as well as the more advanced
`gaming machines available today.
`The system also includes individual credit meters for
`maintaining both the total game credit purchased by a player
`and the amount of that game credit that has not yet been
`risked and thus has not yet become part of game activity.
`With this information, the event processor can properly
`maintain the state of a gaming machine that has been
`retrofitted with a note acceptor or other currency accepting
`device. For example, when the event processor detects that
`a dollar bill has been inserted, the amount of the game credit
`purchase is reflected on both a game credit meter and a
`residual credit meter to indicate that the creditjust purchased
`has not yet been risked. If the player subsequently cashes
`out, the event processor will not add the amount of this
`residual credit to the game activity meter. Therefore, calcu
`lations based on game activity such as win percentage and
`hopper level (which also depends upon the sum of the drop
`meters) will reflect only the actual betting activity at the
`machine.
`In addition, the accounting system ensures accounting
`data integrity by associating meter data with gaming
`machine events. Specifically, the system updates the
`accounting meters simultaneously with the gaming machine
`events that resulted in a change of meter state so that there
`is no latency between events and data. Therefore, the system
`can correlate changes in important quantities such as game
`win percentage and coin hopper level to events which
`caused the change. Furthermore, when the system transmits
`data to other components within the system, it transmits both
`accounting and event data in a single message. Therefore, a
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
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`30
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`35
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`40
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`45
`
`50
`
`55
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`60
`
`65
`
`4
`host computer system can log the data to a database while
`maintaining the proper relationship between the data and the
`corresponding state of the gaming machine.
`In another aspect of the present invention, an improved
`method of handling credit card transactions within the
`gaming machine is provided. The accounting system
`includes separate credit accumulating meters for keeping
`track of game credit purchased by a player and amounts
`collected by a player that are paid to credit card accounts.
`The difference between the meter values is equivalent to a
`credit card drop meter. However, by segregating credit
`purchases from credit payout, a separate audit trail for each
`type of transaction can be maintained. Furthermore, the
`system can compute the net effect on credit card balance
`from the separate credit in and credit out meters and reduce
`all game activity by the player to a single transaction. As a
`result, transaction costs can be significantly reduced.
`In accordance with yet another aspect of the present
`invention, the accounting system can be used with video
`lottery systems which may include many games within a
`single cabinet. Advantageously, the accounting system
`maintains data for all of the games using only a single set of
`accounting meters. The system associates the current meter
`values with a particular game through an indicator that
`uniquely identifies the game currently in use. When a player
`selects a new game in the video lottery system, a change of
`game eventis generated, and in response the system updates
`the game identifier. Because there is no latency between
`events and data as described above, when a change of game
`event occurs, the current meter data can be added to the
`accumulated accounting data for the previous game. Con
`sequently, the system can maintain records of accounting
`data for each game in the machine.
`Other objects and features of the invention will be appar
`ent from the following description and from the drawings.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing the hard
`ware elements of the system;
`FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the accounting
`system components;
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the
`accounting system during coin game play;
`FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the
`accounting system during credit game play;
`FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the
`accounting system during cashless game play; and
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the
`accounting system when a game change event has occurred.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of a gaming
`machine system in accordance with the present invention.
`Box 10 represents a gaming machine which includes a
`structure for accepting currency or the equivalent from a
`player and for paying out cash or other items of monetary
`value. The system of the present invention can be used with
`a variety of different types of gaming machines such as slot
`machines, video poker games and video lottery systems.
`Gaming machine 10 can also be configured to accept cash in
`forms other than coin, and items of monetary value informs
`other than cash. For example, gaming machine 10 can be
`equipped with a multiple card reader and key pad 12 for
`
`EVERI EX. 1018; Page 11
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
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`

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`5
`accepting payment in the form of credit cards, smart cards
`or other data cards containing player credit accounts. In
`addition, gaming machine 10 can be equipped with a note or
`bill acceptor 14 capable of accepting paper money or notes
`in various denominations or bar coded coupons.
`As shown in FIG. 1, in the preferred embodiment the
`primary hardware elements of the system include a game
`monitor unit (GMU) 16, a computer network interface 18,
`and a central or host computer system 20. The game monitor
`unit 16 collects information from gaming machine 10 and
`performs game accounting and other monitoring and secu
`rity functions. GMU 16 transmits accounting data along
`with information about the current state of gaming machine
`10 to the host computer 20 via the network interface 18. The
`central or host computer 20 may be a personal computer, for
`example, an IBM RT class or compatible or an Intel 80x86
`or PentiumTM processor-based personal computer, or a mini
`computer such as a DEC 1184 or IBM RISC 6000, depend
`ing on the size of the installation and the number of gaming
`machines. Central computer 20 may also consist of a net
`20
`work of similar computers linked together. The host com
`puter 20 archives accounting data and customer data in a
`database, calculates other values and takes actions based on
`this accounting data and performs security functions based
`on exceptional events. A more detailed description of a
`gaming machine system in conformance with FIG. 1 is
`provided in a co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No.
`07/763,924 filed on Sep. 23, 1991, which is assigned to the
`assignee of this application, the disclosure of which is
`hereby incorporated by reference into the present applica
`tOn.
`In accordance with the present invention, a monitoring
`and accounting method and system is provided for use with
`gaming machine 10. In the preferred embodiment, account
`ing functions are carried out by GMU 16, which can be a
`single or multiple circuit board computer which has a
`micro-processor or microcontroller such as the Motorola
`BC68HC11 micro-controller.
`Alternatively, gaming
`machine accounting functions could be performed by a
`hardware or firmware subsystem within gaming machine 10
`itself. The GMU 16 can be located within gaming machine
`10 or remotely, communicating with gaming machine 10 in
`that case by a communication cable. In addition to perform
`ing game accounting, GMU 16 can record transactions and
`perform maintenance and security functions in connection
`with gaming machine use.
`FIG. 2 shows a schematic block diagram of the game
`accounting system for use in connection with the present
`invention. Accounting system comprises a plurality of
`accounting meters 34, which includes a set of drop meters 38
`50
`and game activity meters 36, for tracing all money flows and
`game activity, respectively, for the particular machine. The
`accounting meters 34 are non-reset, accumulative meters
`and thus they establish an audit trail for the various quan
`tities they track. In addition, credit meters 28 monitor game
`credit and provide separate meters for the total game credit
`available to the player and the amount of that credit that has
`not yet been risked. The accounting system also includes a
`game event processor 26, which responds to a variety of
`gaming machine events and updates the accounting meters
`accordingly. The event processor 26 is compatible with a
`variety of gaming machines, including traditional coin-only
`machines as well as the more advanced automated cashless
`versions.
`The accounting meters 34 provide a complete record of all
`gaming activity at the gaming machine. Monetary flows are
`tracked by a plurality of drop meters 38, one drop meter 38
`
`30
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`35
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`40
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`45
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`55
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`60
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`65
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`5,470,079
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`10
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`15
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`25
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`6
`for each of the different forms of monetary value accepted
`by gaming machine 10. The coin drop meter 54 is known in
`the art and represents the total value of coins that have been
`diverted to a "drop bucket' in the gaming machine cabinet
`and thus can be collected by the casino. In accordance with
`the invention, a number of additional "drop' meters are
`provided that represent monetary value that is collected by
`the casino in all of its different forms. The drop meters
`include: a bill count drop meter 56 which counts all paper
`currency that has been inserted into anote acceptor; a promo
`drop meter 58, which counts all promotional credits that are
`received by the gaming machine from any source (including,
`e.g., credits from coupons or cards issued by the casino or
`from "bonus points' generated by the machine itself); a
`debit card drop meter 60, which counts all credits from debit
`memory cards (i.e., cards which cannot receive additional
`credit from the gaming machine); and a coin sale drop meter
`62, which counts all credits received from a "change per
`son's' memory card, which is inserted into the gaming
`machine to provide coins for a player in exchange for paper
`currency.
`The accounting meters 34 also include meters for tracking
`other monetary flows. For example, the bill and coupon
`denomination meters 72 provide a count of the number of
`bills of various denominations and the total number and
`value of bar coded coupons that have been received by the
`gaming machine. Credit card transactions for cashless game
`play are tracked in the ABA credit in meter 64, ABA credit
`out meter 66, credit card credit in meter 68 and credit card
`credit out meter 70. The difference between the credit in and
`credit out meters is equivalent to a credit card drop meter.
`The details of credit card accounting in conformance with
`the present invention are described below. Finally, for track
`ing an alternative form of monetary outflow, the cash
`voucher meter 73 counts the total value of all printed
`vouchers that have been issued by the machine.
`Wagering activity is tracked by a set of game activity
`meters 36, comprising a game play meter 39 and a game out
`meter 37, for tracking the total number of bets and wins,
`respectively, issued by gaming machine 10. These meters
`represent only the actual wagering activity at the machine
`and exclude any activity due to, for example, purchased
`credits that are converted to cash without being wagered.
`In addition to the accounting meters, a number of non
`accumulative, resettable meters direct the operation of the
`accounting system. For example, the accounting system
`maintains a game ID indicator 33 which contains a unique
`identifier for the game currently in use on a multi-game
`video lottery system. Moreover, credit meters 28 include a
`game credit meter 30, which reflects the total amount of
`credit available to the player at any time, and a residual
`credit meter 32, which reflects the amount of credit pur
`chased by a player that has not yet been risked and,
`therefore, is not yet part of game play. This separation of
`credits purchased and credits risked enables the system to
`compensate for "vended credits' in the accounting model.
`In operation, accounting meter changes are driven by
`player activity signified by gaming machine "events.” GMU
`16 receives notification that game events have occurred
`through event processor 26. Possible events include: coin or
`other money input by the player 52, wagers placed by the
`player 50, game wins issued to the player 48, a "collect'
`event issued by the player signifying the player's desire to
`withdraw available game credit from the machine 46 and a
`game change event 45 signifying that a player has requested
`a change of game at a video lottery machine.
`The accounting system preserves data integrity by main
`
`EVERI EX. 1018; Page 12
`Everi v. Sightline IPR2022-00707
`
`

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`5,470,079
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`7
`taining a close relationship between gaming machine events
`and the meter values to which the event pertains. Whenever
`the system updates meter values, the event which caused the
`changes is also recorded. Moreover, whenever accounting
`data is transmitted, for example when GMU 16 sends meter
`values to host computer 20, an indicator of the event that
`generated the latest change in the data accompanies the
`meter values. Thus, the host can record the data in proper
`temporal relationship to the pertinent game events. This
`overcomes a disadvantage found in prior systems where
`separate messages were generated for data and events which
`created a latency between the data and the event.
`Event processor 26 records the events on the game credit
`meters 28 and accounting meters 34 as indicated by the type
`of event and the game play mode. For example, a player
`money insertion event 52 will affect the game credit meters
`28 and the accounting drop meters 38 in one way for coin
`game play (path 40) and in another way for credit game play
`(path 42) and still another way for cashless game play (path
`44). Moreover, a game change event 45 precipitates a
`different chain of events necessary for handling multi-game
`gaming machines, such as video lottery systems. The opera
`tion of accounting system in each of these modes is dis
`cussed in detail below.
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`35
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`40
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`8
`CREDIT GAME PLAY
`In this mode, gaming machine 10 is capable of accepting
`currency in forms other than coin and items having mon
`etary value in forms other than cash. For example, gaming
`machine 10 can be equipped with a bill acceptor 14 for
`accepting paper currency or bar coded coupons instead of
`coins. In addition, gaming machine 10 may include a special
`card reader 12 for accepting promotional tickets or debit
`cards having a specified dollar amount available for gam
`bling. These tickets or cards can be issued by casinos for
`promotional events or as a means for limiting the amount of
`money that a player can gamble in states where the maxi
`mum amount is specified by law. In this form of gambling,
`the player has the option of collecting the amount of credit
`purchased without placing any amount at risk and, therefore,
`the amount purchased cannot be reflected immediately in the
`game play meter 39. Accordingly, the accounting system
`segregates credit purchased but not risked from other credit
`available, such as that available from game winnings.
`FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing the operation of the
`accounting system during credit game play. At decision
`block 200, the system determines if items of monetary value
`have been inserted by the player. Once this has occurred, the
`system increments the game credit meter 30 (at block 202)
`to reflect the newly purchased game credit and also incre
`ments the residual credit meter 32 (at block 204) indicating
`that the credit purchased is not yet part of game play. At
`decision blocks 206a, 206b, 206cand 206d, the accounting
`system discerns which form of monetary value has been
`input by the player and increments the bill count, promo
`tional, debit card or coin sale drop meters as appropriate (at
`blocks 208a, 208b, 208c and 208d). If paper currency has
`been input by the player, the accounting system also records
`the denomination of the bill inserted on the bill denomina
`tion meters 72 at block 210. If, instead, a bar coded coupon
`has been inserted, a meter represen