Digital log for gaming machines

Abstract

Techniques for providing a digital log book for a gaming machine. In some implementations, a gaming machine may include a controller adapted to communicate with a network server and a memory configured to store digital log book entries in a digital log. The gaming machine may further include one or more processors configured to verify whether a user has access to the gaming machine, verify that the user has access to the digital log book, and allow the user to add an entry into the digital log book if the verifications are successful. In some implementations, the digital log book for the gaming machine may be accessed by a device that is in communication with the gaming machine, such as a wireless device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a communication interface configured to communicate with a wireless device and a network server;   a memory configured to store digital log book entries in a digital log book; and   one or more processors configured to:
 receive a request from the wireless device for access to the digital log book, 
 facilitate verifying by the network server whether a user associated with the wireless device has access to the digital log book, and 
 upon obtaining verification from the network server that the user has access to the digital log book, allow the user to add or view an entry in the digital log book with the wireless device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more cabinets and wherein the one or more processors are further configured to add an entry to the digital log book upon receiving a request for keyless entry to at least one of the one or more cabinets from the wireless device. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to add an entry to the digital log book when maintenance of the gaming machine is performed with the wireless device. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the user has a first security clearance level and wherein one or more entries in the digital log book cannot be modified or deleted by the user having the first security clearance level. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming machine of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more entries in the digital log book can only be modified or deleted a user having a second security clearance level that is higher than the first security clearance level. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to provide the digital log book entries to the network server. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to add an entry in the digital log book when the digital log book is accessed by the wireless device. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to add an entry in the digital log book when management options of the gaming machine are accessed by the wireless device. 
     
     
         9 . A method for providing a digital log book of a gaming machine to a wireless device associated with a user, comprising:
 receiving, at the gaming machine or a network server, a request from the wireless device for access to the digital log book, the digital log book configured to store one or more digital log book entries;   determining, at the gaming machine or the network server, whether the user has access to the digital log book; and   upon determining that the user has access to the digital log book, allowing the user to add or view an entry in the digital log book with the wireless device   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising adding an entry to the digital log book upon receiving a request for keyless entry to one or more cabinets of the gaming machine from the wireless device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising adding an entry to the digital log book when maintenance of the gaming machine is performed with the wireless device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the user has a first security clearance level and wherein one or more entries in the digital log book cannot be modified or deleted by the user having the first security clearance level. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more entries in the digital log book can only be modified or deleted by a user having a second security clearance level that is higher than the first security clearance level. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising providing the digital log book entries to the network server. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising adding an entry in the digital log book when the digital log book is accessed by the wireless device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising adding an entry in the digital log book when management options of the gaming machine are accessed by the wireless device. 
     
     
         17 . A wireless device comprising:
 A communication interface configured to communicate with a gaming machine or a network server; and   one or more processors configured to:
 send a request to the gaming machine or the network server for access to a digital log book of the gaming machine, 
 receive a response indicating whether a user associated with the wireless device has access to the digital log book, and 
 upon the response indicating that the user has access to the digital log book, allow the user to add or view an entry in the digital log book with the wireless device. 
   
     
     
         18 . The wireless device of  claim 17 , wherein the wireless device is a cell phone, a smart phone, a tablet computer, a PDA, a personal computer, or a laptop computer. 
     
     
         19 . The wireless device of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to receive the digital log book entries from a storage device associated with the gaming machine or the network server. 
     
     
         20 . The wireless device of  claim 17 , wherein the user has a first security clearance level and wherein one or more entries in the digital log book can only be modified or deleted by a user having a second security clearance level higher than the first security clearance level.