Shared transport medium system and method for use within a casino or gambling environment

Abstract

A gaming system and associated method are provided including at least one electronic gaming machine, and an apparatus selected from the group consisting of a data collection unit and a back-end server. Further included is a transport medium for providing communication between the at least one electronic gaming machine and the apparatus.

1 . A gaming system, comprising: 
 at least one electronic gaming machine;    an apparatus selected from the group consisting of a data collection unit and a back-end server; and    a transport medium for providing communication between the at least one electronic gaming machine and the apparatus.    
     
     
         2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus performs switching operations.  
     
     
         3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes the data collection unit.  
     
     
         4 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes the back-end server.  
     
     
         5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the transport medium provides the communication between the at least one electronic gaming machine and the apparatus, utilizing a system interface board associated with the at least one electronic gaming machine.  
     
     
         6 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the transport medium is selected from the group consisting of category  5  twisted pair cabling, fiber optics cabling, and coax cabling.  
     
     
         7 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured as a virtual link interface.  
     
     
         8 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured as a channel interface.  
     
     
         9 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the electronic gaming machines are included, each capable of communicating with each other utilizing the transport medium.  
     
     
         10 . The gaming system of  claim 9 , wherein each of the electronic gaming machines communicate via a dedicated virtual link or channel interface.  
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising: 
 providing communication between at least one electronic gaming machine, and an apparatus selected from the group consisting of at least one of a data collection unit and a back-end server, utilizing a transport medium.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus performs switching operations.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus includes the data collection unit.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus includes the back-end server.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1   1 , wherein the transport medium provides the communication between the at least one electronic gaming machine and the apparatus, utilizing a system interface board associated with the at least one electronic gaming machine.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the transport medium is selected from the group consisting of category  5  twisted pair cabling, fiber optics cabling, and coax cabling.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is configured as a virtual link interface.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is configured as a channel interface.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein a plurality of the electronic gaming machines are included, each capable of communicating with each other utilizing the transport medium.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein each of the electronic gaming machines communicate via a dedicated virtual link or channel interface.