Method and apparatus for supporting wide area gaming network

Abstract

A method of monitoring and providing support to a gaming device that includes monitoring the gaming device to determine an occurrence of an event, generating a message regarding the event, encoding the message, transmitting the message to a remote location over a communication link, receiving the message at the remote location, decoding the message, analyzing the message, and initiating a response to the message. In one embodiment, the event comprises an error or fault and the message regarding the event is transmitted using the simple mail transfer protocol (SMTP). Embodiments of the invention comprise apparatus forming a part of a gaming network or system including gaming devices such as gaming machines. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises servers associated with a remote service center and message data storage.

1 . A method for supporting a gaming device from a remote location comprising the steps of: 
 monitoring said gaming device;    determining an occurrence of an event at said gaming device;    generating a message regarding said event;    encoding said message;    transmitting said message to said remote location, said message transmitted over a communication link including at least a portion of the Internet utilizing SMTP;    receiving said message at said remote location;    decoding said message;    analyzing said message; and    initiating a response to said message.    
   
   
       2 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said event comprises an error or fault at said gaming device.  
   
   
       3 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said event comprises a parameter or characteristic of said gaming device.  
   
   
       4 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said step of initiating a response comprises generating data and transmitting said data from said remote location to said gaming device.  
   
   
       5 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  including the step of assigning an identification code to said message.  
   
   
       6 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said step of analyzing comprises classifying said message based upon said event.  
   
   
       7 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said gaming device is associated with a network, said network including a server connected at one or more times to the Internet, and said remote location comprises a service center including a host connected at one or more times to the Internet.  
   
   
       8 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said gaming device comprises a gaming machine arranged to present at least one game to a player based upon a wager.  
   
   
       9 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  including the step of establishing a point-to-point dedicated communication link between said remote location and said gaming device and transmitting said message over said communication link.  
   
   
       10 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said message is transmitted from said gaming device to said remote location over a first communication link and said step of initiating a response comprises transmitting a response from said remote location to said gaming device over a second communication link.  
   
   
       11 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  including the step of storing said message at said remote location.  
   
   
       12 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  including the step of assigning a unique identifier to said message.  
   
   
       13 . The method in accordance with  claim 12  wherein said unique identifier includes information identifying said gaming device from which said message was sent.  
   
   
       14 . The method in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said gaming device comprises a gaming machine having a gaming controller running an operating system and including the step of recording event information in a log associated with said operating system, and wherein said monitoring step comprises monitoring said log to determine the occurrence of said event.  
   
   
       15 . A method of providing support to a gaming device comprising: 
 determining the occurrence of an event meeting a predefined criteria at said gaming device;    generating a message regarding said event;    transmitting said message from said gaming device to a remote service center utilizing a dedicated communication link between said gaming device and remote service center;    analyzing said message regarding said event; and    generating a response.    
   
   
       16 . The method in accordance with  claim 15  including the step of transmitting said message using the simple mail transfer protocol.  
   
   
       17 . The method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein said event comprises an error or fault.  
   
   
       18 . The method in accordance with  claim 15  wherein said step of generating a response comprises generating program code for use by said gaming device and transmitting said program code to said gaming device.  
   
   
       19 . A gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices and a support system for said gaming devices comprising: 
 a gaming controller associated with each of said gaming devices;    a first communication interface associated with said gaming controller;    means for detecting the occurrence of an event meeting predefined criteria occurring at said gaming device;    means for generating an event message in response to a detected event;    a remote server;    a second communication interface associated with said remote server;    a dedicated communication link between said first communication interface associated with said gaming controller and said second communication interface associated with said remote server;    a memory associated with said remote server for storing messages transmitted from said gaming device to said remote server; and    means for generating a response to said event message.    
   
   
       20 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 19  wherein said gaming controller and said remote device including an application for transmitting and receiving messages in accordance with simple mail transfer protocol.  
   
   
       21 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 19  including an operating system operated by said gaming controller, said operating system including an event log and wherein said means for detecting comprises means for detecting the occurrence of an event registered at said event log.  
   
   
       22 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 19  wherein said means for generating an event message includes means for generating a unique identifier for said message.  
   
   
       23 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 19  wherein said gaming device comprises an electronically operating gaming machine.  
   
   
       24 . The gaming system in accordance with  claim 23  wherein a plurality of gaming machines are linked by a common local area network, wherein said local area network is part of a larger wide area network including multiple local area networks, and wherein said communication link is established through said local area network and said wide area network from said gaming machine to said remote location.