Remote configuration of gaming terminals

Abstract

A gaming terminal data repository (GTDR) for storing game software components and transaction information for gaming machine and gaming terminals is disclosed. A system database is partitioned according to different gaming entities allowing game software component configurations of particular gaming terminals to be easily analyzed and modified. Game software components for gaming terminals connected to the GTDR may be automatically updated using various triggers. System gaming machines may utilize a combination of game software components residing on the gaming machine and those received from the GTDR. A library of preset gaming terminal configurations can be stored at the system database, where each such preset configuration includes specific settings for each of a plurality of gaming terminal setting categories. Gaming terminals can be configured remotely using the GTDR, and possibly one or more of the stored preset gaming terminal configurations.

1 . A method in a gaming terminal data repository (GTDR) coupled to a plurality of gaming terminals, the method comprising: 
 storing game software components for execution on the plurality of gaming terminals to a mass storage unit coupled to the GTDR wherein the gaming terminals each provide wagering on a game of chance and wherein the game software components include game software for allowing the game of chance to be generated on the plurality of gaming terminals and wherein the game software components for allowing the game of chance to be generated are approved use in gaming jurisdictions where each of the plurality of gaming terminals is located;    gathering gaming transaction data for the plurality of gaming terminals specifying a performance criteria; and    determining a performance of a first game of chance played on a first gaming terminal;    comparing the performance of the first game of chance to the performance criteria; and    downloading gaming software components for a second game of chance for execution on the first gaming terminal.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming transaction data is gathered directly from one or more of the plurality of gaming terminals.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming transaction data is gathered from a remote server storing gaming transaction data for one or more of the plurality of gaming terminals.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the remote server is a player tracking server or a cashless transaction server.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the download is performed while the first gaming terminal is available for game play.  
   
   
       6 . A method in a gaming terminal data repository (GTDR) coupled to a plurality of gaming terminals, the method comprising: 
 storing game software components for execution on the plurality of gaming terminals to a mass storage unit coupled to the GTDR wherein the gaming terminals each provide wagering on a game of chance and wherein the game software components include game software for allowing the game of chance to be generated on the plurality of gaming terminals and wherein the game software components for allowing the game of chance to be generated are approved use in gaming jurisdictions where each of the plurality of gaming terminals is located;    displaying gaming software component information for one or more of the plurality of gaming terminals to a display interface coupled to the GTDR;    displaying a configuration menu for configuring game software components on a first gaming terminal;    storing information specifying a change in a game software configuration for the first gaming terminal; and    downloading one or more game software components to the first gaming terminal in response to the change in the game software configuration.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising, 
 determining a relative performance for a number of different types of games of chance available for game play on the plurality of gaming terminals; and 
 displaying the relative performance of the number of different types of games of chance to the display interface coupled to the GTDR.  
   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising: 
 determining a relative performance for a number of different gaming terminals; and    displaying the relative performance for the number of different gaming terminals.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the configuration menu is adapted for allowing a selection one or more gaming terminals for game software configuration.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the configuration menu includes one or more game software configuration templates for configuring the plurality of gaming terminals.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more game software components include player tracking software for a player tracking unit coupled to the gaming machine.  
   
   
       12 . A method in a gaming terminal data repository (GTDR) coupled to a plurality of gaming terminals, the method comprising: 
 storing game software components for execution on the plurality of gaming terminals to a mass storage unit coupled to the GTDR wherein the gaming terminals each provide wagering on a game of chance and wherein the game software components include game software for allowing the game of chance to be generated on the plurality of gaming terminals and wherein the game software components for allowing the game of chance to be generated are approved use in gaming jurisdictions where each of the plurality of gaming terminals is located;    storing a first software configuration for a first gaming terminal in the plurality of game terminals;    storing a second software configuration for the first gaming terminal;    comparing the first software configuration to the second software configuration to determine which of the game software components are necessary to change the first software configuration to the second software configuration; and    downloading the necessary game software components to change the first configuration to the second software configuration on the first gaming terminal.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 storing one or more update triggers for determining when to perform the download to the first game terminal.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the update trigger is a time or a time period.  
   
   
       15 . A method in a gaming terminal data repository (GTDR) coupled to a plurality of gaming terminals, the method comprising: 
 storing game software components for execution on the plurality of gaming terminals to a mass storage unit coupled to the GTDR wherein the gaming terminals each provide wagering on a game of chance and wherein the game software components include game software for allowing the game of chance to be generated on the plurality of gaming terminals and wherein the game software components for allowing the game of chance to be generated are approved use in gaming jurisdictions where each of the plurality of gaming terminals is located;    storing a first software configuration for a first gaming terminal in the plurality of game terminals different from its current software configuration;    storing a second software configuration for a second gaming terminal in the plurality of game terminals different from its current software configuration;    storing one or more update triggers for determining when to perform a first software download to the first game terminal and when to perform a second software download to the second game terminal;    downloading one or more first game software components to the first gaming software terminal to change its current software configuration to the first software configuration; and    downloading one or more second game software components to the second gaming software terminal to change its current software configuration to the second software configuration.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the downloads to the first gaming terminal and the second game software terminal are performed concurrently.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the download to the first gaming terminal and the download to the second gaming terminal are performed non-concurrently.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: storing one or more first update triggers for determining when to perform the first software download to the first game terminal and storing one or more second update triggers for determining when to perform the second software download to the second game terminal.  
   
   
       19 . A method in a gaming terminal data repository (GTDR) coupled to a plurality of gaming terminals, the method comprising: 
 storing game software components for execution on the plurality of gaming terminals to a mass storage unit coupled to the GTDR wherein the gaming terminals each provide wagering on a game of chance and wherein the game software components include game software for allowing the game of chance to be generated on the plurality of gaming terminals and wherein the game software components for allowing the game of chance to be generated are approved use in gaming jurisdictions where each of the plurality of gaming terminals is located;    establishing communications with a first gaming terminal in the plurality of gaming terminals;    receiving a game software request from the first gaming terminal;    determining one or more game software components necessary to satisfy the game software request; and    downloading the one more game software components to the first gaming terminal.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the game software request is initiated in response to player input received at the first gaming terminal.  
   
   
       21 . A method in a game server coupled to a plurality of gaming terminals and a GTDR, the method comprising: 
 storing game software components for execution on the plurality of gaming terminals and for execution on the game server to a mass storage unit coupled to the game server wherein the gaming terminals each provide wagering on a game of chance and wherein outcomes to the game of chance are determined on the gaming server and wherein the game software components include game software for allowing the game of chance to be displayed on the plurality of gaming terminals and wherein the game software components for allowing the outcomes to the game of chance to be generated are approved for use in gaming jurisdiction where the game server is located;    generating the outcomes for the game of chance on the game server;    communicating the outcomes to the plurality of game terminals;    establishing communications with the GTDR; and    storing first game software components received from the GTDR wherein the first game software components are for execution on one of the game server, a first gaming terminal in the plurality of game terminals or combinations thereof.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising downloading the first game software components to the first gaming terminal.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the game of chance is a bingo game, a lottery game or a keno game.  
   
   
       24 . A method in a gaming terminal data repository (GTDR) coupled to a plurality of gaming terminals, the method comprising: 
 storing game software components for execution on the plurality of gaming terminals to a mass storage unit coupled to the GTDR wherein the gaming terminals each provide wagering on a game of chance and wherein the game software components include game software for allowing the game of chance to be generated on the plurality of gaming terminals and wherein the game software components for allowing the game of chance to be generated are approved use in gaming jurisdictions where each of the plurality of gaming terminals is located;    selecting a portion of the plurality of gaming terminals;    scheduling a promotion on the portion of gaming terminals; and    downloading game software components to the portion of the gaming terminals that allow the promotion to be generated on each of the gaming terminals.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein the game software components that allow the promotion to be generated on each of the gaming terminals are selected from the group consisting of paytables, game bonusing components, game graphics and game sounds.  
   
   
       26 . The method of game  25 , wherein the promotion is a bonus game.  
   
   
       27 . A method in a gaming terminal data repository (GTDR) coupled to a plurality of gaming terminals, the method comprising: 
 storing game software components for execution on the plurality of gaming terminals to a mass storage unit coupled to the GTDR wherein the gaming terminals each provide wagering on a game of chance and wherein the game software components include game software for allowing the game of chance to be generated on the plurality of gaming terminals and wherein the game software components for allowing the game of chance to be generated are approved use in gaming jurisdictions where each of the plurality of gaming terminals is located;    selecting a portion of the plurality of gaming terminals for participation in a progressive game; and    downloading game software components to the portion of the gaming terminals that allow the progressive game to be generated on each of the gaming terminals.