US2006039733A1PendingUtilityA1

Method and apparatus for voucher and coupon printing in a gaming or vending environment

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Assignee: FUTURELOGIC INCPriority: Mar 29, 2002Filed: Jun 3, 2005Published: Feb 23, 2006
Est. expiryMar 29, 2022(expired)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Mark Meyerhofer
G06F 3/1273G06F 3/1234G07F 17/3248G07F 17/42G06F 3/121G06Q 30/0222G06Q 30/0207G06Q 30/0235G06Q 20/387G07F 17/32G06F 3/1208G06Q 30/02G06Q 30/0208
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Claims

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for a promotional printer for printing vouchers and coupons for use within gaming machines or vending machines. The promotional printer incorporates a first and second means for receiving voucher and coupon data, respectively. The promotional printer may be coupled to a local controller, such as a game controller or a vending machine controller, for the reception of voucher data for printing on vouchers. The promotional printer may also be coupled to a system controller such as a master promotional controller for the reception of coupon data for printing on coupons. The promotional printer may be a single device or may be created by combining a module receiving the coupon and voucher data with a conventional gaming machine or voucher printer.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 . An interface for controlling a printer, comprising: 
 a first driver for receiving, from a local controller, data indicative of information to be printed;    a second driver for receiving, from a central system controller, data indicative of information to be printed; and    a processor responsive to said first and second drivers for generating printer commands in a standard format for said printer.    
     
     
         2 . An interface in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said first driver receives data in a first format, and said second driver receives data in a second format.  
     
     
         3 . An interface in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein: 
 said first driver receives data in one of a trigger or template format; and    said second driver receives data in another one of said trigger or template formats.    
     
     
         4 . An interface in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said first driver and said processor together decode data from said local controller and convert the decoded local controller data to said standard format; and    said second driver and said processor together decode data from said central system controller and convert the decoded central system controller data to said standard format.    
     
     
         5 . An interface in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said first driver processes cash data from the local controller for use in printing a voucher.  
     
     
         6 . An interface in accordance with  claim 5 , wherein said second driver processes non-cash data from the central system controller for use in printing a coupon.  
     
     
         7 . An interface in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said second driver processes non-cash data from the central system controller for use in printing a coupon.  
     
     
         8 . An interface in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said interface is built into the printer.  
     
     
         9 . An interface in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said interface is external to the printer.  
     
     
         10 . An interface in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said printer is a gaming machine printer.  
     
     
         11 . An interface in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said printer is a vending machine printer.  
     
     
         12 . An interface for controlling a printer, comprising: 
 first means for receiving, from a local controller, data indicative of information to be printed;    second means for receiving, from a central system controller, data indicative of information to be printed; and    third means responsive to said first and second means for generating printer commands in a standard format for said printer.    
     
     
         13 . An interface in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said first means receives data in a first format, and said second means receives data in a second format.  
     
     
         14 . An interface in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein: 
 said first means receives data in one of a trigger or template format; and    said second means receives data in another one of said trigger or template formats.    
     
     
         15 . An interface in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said first means and said third means together decode data from said local controller and convert the decoded local controller data to said standard format; and    said second means and said third means together decode data from said central system controller and convert the decoded central system controller data to said standard format.    
     
     
         16 . An interface in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said first means processes cash data from the local controller for use in printing a voucher.  
     
     
         17 . An interface in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein said second means processes non-cash data from the central system controller for use in printing a coupon.  
     
     
         18 . An interface in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said second means processes non-cash data from the central system controller for use in printing a coupon.  
     
     
         19 . An interface in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said interface is built into the printer.  
     
     
         20 . An interface in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said interface is external to the printer.  
     
     
         21 . An interface in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said printer is a gaming machine printer.  
     
     
         22 . An interface in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein said printer is a vending machine printer.  
     
     
         23 . An interface for controlling a printer, comprising: 
 a first driver for receiving, from a local controller, cash data indicative of information to be printed on a voucher;    a second driver for receiving, from a central system controller, non-cash data indicative of information to be printed on a coupon; and    a processor responsive to said first and second drivers for generating printer commands in a standard format for said printer.    
     
     
         24 . An interface in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein said first driver receives data in a first format, and said second driver receives data in a second format.  
     
     
         25 . An interface in accordance with  claim 24 , wherein: 
 said first driver receives data in one of a trigger or template format; and    said second driver receives data in another one of said trigger or template formats.    
     
     
         26 . An interface in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein: 
 said first driver and said processor together decode data from said local controller and convert the decoded local controller data to said standard format; and    said second driver and said processor together decode data from said central system controller and convert the decoded central system controller data to said standard format.    
     
     
         27 . An interface in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein said interface is built into the printer.  
     
     
         28 . An interface in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein said interface is external to the printer.  
     
     
         29 . An interface in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein said printer is a gaming machine printer.  
     
     
         30 . An interface in accordance with  claim 23 , wherein said printer is a vending machine printer.  
     
     
         31 . An interface for controlling a printer, comprising: 
 first means for receiving, from a local controller, cash data indicative of information to be printed on a voucher;    second means for receiving, from a central system controller, non-cash data indicative of information to be printed on a coupon; and    third means, responsive to said first and second means, for generating printer commands in a standard format for said printer.    
     
     
         32 . An interface in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein said first means receives data in a first format, and said second means receives data in a second format.  
     
     
         33 . An interface in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein: 
 said first means receives data in one of a trigger or template format; and    said second means receives data in another one of said trigger or template formats.    
     
     
         34 . An interface in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein: 
 said first means and said third means together decode data from said local controller and convert the decoded local controller data to said standard format; and    said second means and said third means together decode data from said central system controller and convert the decoded central system controller data to said standard format.    
     
     
         35 . An interface in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein said interface is built into the printer.  
     
     
         36 . An interface in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein said interface is external to the printer.  
     
     
         37 . An interface in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein said printer is a gaming machine printer.  
     
     
         38 . An interface in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein said printer is a vending machine printer.

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