Hybrid gaming network

Abstract

The invention provides a method and apparatus for linking a plurality of independent networks to a single central control system. In one embodiment, a casino accounting and reporting processing system provides a common back end to a plurality of networks. In one embodiment, the central server is coupled to at least one network using the same protocol so that no translation or interface is necessary. One or more other networks are coupled to the central server via an interface for translating communications and commands from the independent network to the host network protocol. In one embodiment, the interface is implemented using a standard interface referred to as “S2S”. An advantage of the invention is that it can be used to provide a common user interface, common accounting and security, and common player tracking management.

1 . A gaming network comprising: 
 a first sub-network using a first network protocol;    a second sub-network using a second network protocol;    an interface coupled to the first and second sub-networks to translate messages between the first and second sub-networks.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming network of  claim 1  wherein the second network protocol is SOAP over HTTPS.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming network of  claim 1  wherein the first network protocol is a proprietary system.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming network of  claim 1  wherein the interface comprises an S2S transport protocol.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming network of  claim 1  further including a first inbound command queue in said first sub-network for receiving messages containing commands from the second sub-network.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming network of  claim 5  further including a first outbound command queue in said first sub-network for sending messages containing commands to the second sub-network.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming network of  claim 6  further including a second inbound command queue in said second sub-network for receiving messages containing commands from the first sub-network.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming network of  claim 7  further including a second outbound command queue in said second sub-network for sending messages containing commands to said first sub-network.