Electronic Gaming Machine Automated Testing

Abstract

A method for testing an electronic gaming machine includes generating a test sequence comprising tests to be conducted on the electronic gaming machine, generating a test script from the test sequence, accessing a protocol dictionary to determine values for the inputs, emulating parts of the electronic gaming machine by applying the specific values for the inputs to the electronic gaming machine, receiving outputs from the electronic gaming machine, accessing the protocol dictionary to determine conditions associated with the outputs, and interpreting the determined conditions to determine whether the criteria for appropriate operation of the electronic gaming machine has been met. The tests include a criteria indicating inappropriate or appropriate operation of the electronic gaming machine. The test script includes inputs to be applied to the electronic gaming machine. The inputs are associated with wagering game play. The values emulate parts of the electronic gaming machine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for testing an electronic gaming machine, comprising:
 generating a test sequence comprising one or more tests to be conducted on the electronic gaming machine, the tests including a criteria indicating inappropriate or appropriate operation of the electronic gaming machine;   generating a test script from the test sequence, the test script comprising one or more inputs to be applied to the electronic gaming machine, the one or more inputs associated with wagering game play;   accessing a protocol dictionary to determine values for the inputs, the values emulating one or more parts of the electronic gaming machine;   emulating one or more parts of the electronic gaming machine by applying the specific values for the inputs to the electronic gaming machine;   receiving one or more outputs from the electronic gaming machine;   accessing the protocol dictionary to determine conditions associated with the outputs; and   interpreting the determined conditions to determine whether the criteria for appropriate operation of the electronic gaming machine has been met.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein emulating one or more parts of the electronic gaming machine includes emulating a bill acceptor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein emulating one or more parts of the electronic gaming machine includes emulating pressing inputs into the electronic gaming machine. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein emulating one or more parts of the electronic gaming machine includes emulating communication from a casino server. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein emulating one or more parts of the electronic gaming machine includes emulating swiping of a player card. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving one or more outputs from the electronic gaming machine includes receiving outputs indicating the result of wagering game play. 
     
     
         7 . An article of manufacture, comprising:
 a computer readable medium; and   computer-executable instructions carried on the computer readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor, the instructions, when read and executed, for causing the processor to:
 generate a test sequence comprising one or more tests to be conducted on the electronic gaming machine, the tests including a criteria indicating inappropriate or appropriate operation of the electronic gaming machine; 
 generate a test script from the test sequence, the test script comprising one or more inputs to be applied to the electronic gaming machine, the one or more inputs associated with wagering game play; 
 access a protocol dictionary to determine values for the inputs, the values emulating one or more parts of the electronic gaming machine; 
 emulate one or more parts of the electronic gaming machine by applying the values for the inputs to the electronic gaming machine; 
 receive one or more outputs from the electronic gaming machine; 
 access the protocol dictionary to determine conditions associated with the outputs; and 
 interpret the determined conditions to determine whether the criteria for appropriate operation of the electronic gaming machine has been met. 
   
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein emulating one or more parts of the electronic gaming machine includes emulating a bill acceptor. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein emulating one or more parts of the electronic gaming machine includes emulating pressing inputs into the electronic gaming machine. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein emulating one or more parts of the electronic gaming machine includes emulating communication from a casino server. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein emulating one or more parts of the electronic gaming machine includes emulating swiping of a player card. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein receiving one or more outputs from the electronic gaming machine includes receiving outputs indicating the result of wagering game play. 
     
     
         13 . A system for testing an electronic gaming machine, comprising:
 a test server comprising a server processor coupled to a server memory;   a test fixture comprising an emulator, the test fixture communicatively coupled to the test server;   the server memory containing instructions for causing the server processor to:
 generate a test sequence comprising one or more tests to be conducted on the electronic gaming machine, the tests including a criteria indicating inappropriate or appropriate operation of the electronic gaming machine; 
 generate a test script from the test sequence, the test script comprising one or more inputs to be applied to the electronic gaming machine, the one or more inputs associated with wagering game play; 
 access a protocol dictionary to determine values for the inputs, the values emulating one or more parts of the electronic gaming machine; and 
 communicate the values to the test fixture; 
   the emulator configured to:
 emulate one or more parts of the electronic gaming machine by applying the values for the inputs to the electronic gaming machine; 
 receive one or more outputs from the electronic gaming machine; and 
 communicate the outputs to the test server; 
   the server memory containing further instructions for causing the server processor to:
 access the protocol dictionary to determine conditions associated with the outputs; and 
 interpret the determined conditions to determine whether the criteria for appropriate operation of the electronic gaming machine has been met. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the emulator is configured to emulate a bill acceptor. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the emulator is configured to emulate pressing inputs into the electronic gaming machine. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the emulator is configured to emulate communication from a casino server. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the emulator is configured to emulate swiping of a player card. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein receiving one or more outputs from the electronic gaming machine includes receiving outputs indicating the result of wagering game play. 
     
     
         19 . A method of determining a protocol dictionary, comprising:
 determining an input to be applied to an electronic gaming machine, the input associated with wagering game play;   applying the input to the electronic gaming machine;   monitoring the application of input to the electronic gaming machine;   recording the input to the electronic gaming machine in an operational trace;   associating the operational trace with the input; and   storing the association in the protocol dictionary.   
     
     
         20 . A method of determining a protocol dictionary, comprising:
 determining an input to be applied to an electronic gaming machine, the input associated with wagering game play;   applying the input to the electronic gaming machine;   receiving an output from the electronic gaming machine in response to the input;   recording the output to the electronic gaming machine in an operational trace;   associating the operational trace with the output; and   storing the association in the protocol dictionary.