Information transfer to gaming machines

Abstract

A gaming machine requests a download from peer gaming machines in a peer to peer gaming machine network. Responses from gaming machines in the peer to peer gaming machine network are evaluated by the requesting gaming machine, and a peer gaming machine is selected as a function of connectivity. The download is then requested from the selected gaming machine. Connection quality is monitored during download and download can be dynamically changed to a different peer should the current download connection become undesirable and/or a better connection discovered.

1 . A gaming machine implemented method comprising: 
 requesting a download from devices in a peer to peer gaming machine network;    evaluating responses from devices in the peer to peer gaming machine network;    selecting a provider device that responded as a function of suitability; and    requesting the download from the selected provider device.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the suitability is a function of latency of a received response.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the suitability is a function of quality of connection on which a response is received  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the download contains game assets selected from the group consisting of images, sounds, video, paytables and executable code.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the connection quality is a function of throughput.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the connection quality is a function of error rates.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising receiving download packets from the selected provider device.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  and further comprising monitoring quality of delivery during receiving download packets.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8  and further comprising re-evaluation of the available providers and selecting a different provider device if the suitability of the current provider device becomes lower than a predetermined threshold.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising periodic re-evaluation of the available providers and selecting a different provider device if the suitability of said different provider device is superior to the suitability of the current selected provider based on a predetermined threshold or formula.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein selecting a different provider is a function of a comparison between an anticipated benefit versus an anticipated cost to perform the switch.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising selecting a different gaming machine to provide the download if the currently selected gaming machine becomes busy.  
   
   
       13 . A computer readable medium having instructions for causing a gaming machine to perform a method comprising: 
 requesting a download from devices in a peer to peer gaming machine network;    evaluating responses from devices in the peer to peer gaming machine network;    selecting a device that responded as a function of suitability; and    requesting the download from the selected device.    
   
   
       14 . The computer readable medium of  claim 10  wherein the method further comprises receiving download packets from the selected gaming machine.  
   
   
       15 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11  wherein the method further comprises monitoring continued suitability of the selected provider device during receiving download packets.  
   
   
       16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 12  wherein the method further comprises selecting a different device to provide the download if the suitability of the current provider device becomes lower than a predetermined threshold.  
   
   
       17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 11  wherein the method further comprises periodic re-evaluation of the available providers and selecting a different provider device if the suitability of said different provider device is greater than the suitability of the current provider device based on a predetermined threshold or formula.  
   
   
       18 . A gaming machine implemented method comprising: 
 broadcasting a discovery packet identifying gaming assets to peer gaming machines in a peer to peer gaming machine network;    receiving responses from peer gaming machines which are capable of providing the identified gaming asset;    selecting a gaming machine capable of providing the identified gaming asset as a function of suitability; and    requesting the identified gaming asset from such capable gaming machine.    
   
   
       19 . A machine implemented method comprising: 
 requesting data from peer gaming machines in a peer to peer gaming machine network;    receiving responses from peer gaming machines which are capable of providing the identified data;    selecting a gaming machine capable of providing the identified data as a function of connectivity; and    requesting the identified data from such capable gaming machine.    
   
   
       20 . A machine implemented method comprising: 
 identifying a download for a gaming machine in a peer to peer gaming machine network;    selecting a provider device in the peer to peer gaming machine network that has the identified download as a function of suitability; and    requesting the download from the selected provider device.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the provider device is selected by a central arbiter.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the central arbiter is a server or a slot administrative workstation.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the download is authenticated.