System and method for managing meter information in a gaming system

Abstract

A method for managing meters in a gaming system comprises receiving meter information at a client gaming machine in a format employed by a client/server gaming system. The information is processed to be compatible with a gaming management system. The processed meter information is then provided to the gaming management system.

1 . A method for managing meters in a gaming system, comprising the steps of:
 receiving meter information at a client gaming machine in a format employed by a client/server gaming system;   processing the information to be compatible with a gaming management system; and   providing the processed meter information to the gaming management system.   
   
   
       2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , comprising the further step of caching at least one of the meter information or the processed meter information prior to providing the processed meter information to the gaming management system. 
   
   
       3 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , comprising the further step of changing the format of the processed meter information to comply with a different communication protocol. 
   
   
       4 . A method in accordance with  claim 3 , comprising the further step of providing the meter information to a hardware interface module. 
   
   
       5 . A method in accordance with  claim 2 , comprising the further step of providing the processed meter information from the cache on receipt of a request from the gaming management system. 
   
   
       6 . A method in accordance with  claim 2 , comprising the further step of providing the processes meter information at predefined time intervals. 
   
   
       7 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , whereby the meter information is information pertaining to a game provided by the system. 
   
   
       8 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , whereby the meter information is information pertaining to a parameter of the gaming system. 
   
   
       9 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , whereby the meter information is provided in a format compatible with the SAS protocol. 
   
   
       10 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the first or second gaming system includes at least one gaming device. 
   
   
       11 . A meter management system for managing meters in a gaming system, comprising:
 a client gaming machine arranged to receive meter information in a defined format employed by a client/server gaming system, the client gaming machine comprising an integration module arranged to process the information to be compatible with a gaming management system and provide the processed meter information to a gaming management system.   
   
   
       12 . A system in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising a cache arranged to cache the integrated meter information prior to providing the integrated meter information to the gaming management system. 
   
   
       13 . A system in accordance with  claim 11 , further comprising a filter arranged to change the format of the integrated meter information to comply with a different communication protocol. 
   
   
       14 . A system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the meter information is provided to a hardware interface module. 
   
   
       15 . A system in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the integrated meter information is provided from the cache on receipt of a request from the gaming management system. 
   
   
       16 . A system in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the integrated meter information is provided at predefined time intervals. 
   
   
       17 . A system in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the meter information is information pertaining to a game provided by the system. 
   
   
       18 . A system in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the meter information is information pertaining to a parameter of the gaming system. 
   
   
       19 . A system in accordance with  claim 11 , whereby the meter information is provided in a format compatible with the SAS protocol. 
   
   
       20 . A system in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the first or second gaming system includes at least one gaming device. 
   
   
       21 . A computer program arranged to, when executed on a computing system, carry out the method steps of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       22 . A computer readable medium incorporating a computer program in accordance with  claim 21 . 
   
   
       23 . A method for managing meters comprising receiving meter information at a client gaming machine in a format employed by a client/server gaming system; and
 caching the meter information or a processed version thereof at the client gaming machine at least until the meter information has been successfully transferred to a gaming management system.   
   
   
       24 . A meter management system for managing meters in a gaming system, comprising:
 a client gaming machine arranged to receive meter information in a defined format employed by a client/server gaming system and to cache the meter information or a processed version thereof at least until the meter information has been successfully transferred to a gaming management system.   
   
   
       25 . A computer program arranged to, when executed on a computing system, carry out the method steps in accordance with  claim 23 . 
   
   
       26 . A computer readable medium incorporating a computer program in accordance with  claim 25 . 
   
   
       27 . A data signal comprising the computer program code according to  claim 25 . 
   
   
       28 . Transmitting the data signal according to  claim 27 .