Remote power reset feature on a gaming machine

Abstract

A gaming device for a gaming machine is described. The gaming device can be configured to implement commands related to performing maintenance operations on the gaming machine. The commands can be initiated from a remote device, such as mobile device, separate from the gaming machine and the gaming device. In one embodiment, the gaming peripheral can be coupled to a power switching device on the gaming machine. A number of devices on the gaming machine, such as game controller, can be configured to receive power that is routed through the power switching device. The gaming device can be configured to receive a command from a remote device to cycle power on the gaming machine using the power switching device. In one example, the power can be cycled on the gaming machine to clear an error condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method in a gaming machine having 1) a cabinet including a secure enclosure; 2) a connection to an AC power source, disposed within the secure enclosure, configured to receive power for the gaming machine; 3) a game controller, disposed within the secure enclosure, for controlling a wager-based game played on the gaming machine, communicatively coupled to a plurality of peripheral devices coupled to the cabinet and 4) a manual switch, disposed within the secure enclosure and electrically coupled to the connection to the AC power source, wherein the manual switch is configured to interrupt or allow AC power to the gaming machine including the game controller and the plurality of peripheral devices, the method comprising:
 receiving by a processor via a first communication pathway, information from the game controller wherein the processor and the communication pathway are added during a retrofit of the gaming machine;   communicating by the processor via a second communication pathway added during the retrofit with a remote device separate from the gaming machine;   determining in the processor, based upon the information received from one of the gaming controller, the remote device or combinations thereof to cycle power on the gaming machine; and   while the manual switch is inaccessible within the secure enclosure, sending, by the processor to a power switching device, one or more control signals which cause the power switching device to cycle power to the game controller, one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices or combinations thereof;   wherein the power switching device is added during the retrofit and   wherein communications between the processor and the game controller, the processor and the remote device and the processor and the power switching device do not require modification to existing game software executed by the game controller prior to the retrofit of the gaming machine.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said determining comprises, based upon the information received from the game controller, determining in the processor whether the gaming machine is in a state that allows the cycling of the power. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving from the remote device via the second communication pathway a command to cycle the power on the gaming machine. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the remote device is a mobile device configured to communicate with the gaming machine via a wireless network. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is coupled to the gaming machine during the retrofit such that while cycling power to the game controller, one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices or combinations thereof, the processor maintains access to the power. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of devices is a value input device further comprising controlling in the processor a power switch to only cycle the power to the value input device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the plurality of devices is a value output device further comprising controlling in the processor a power switch to only cycle power to the value output device. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the power switching device includes a plurality of power switches. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising communicating in the processor with a first peripheral device via a third communication pathway added to the gaming machine during the retrofit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the determining to cycle the power to the gaming machine is based upon information received from the first peripheral device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the information received from the first peripheral device is related to an error condition on the first peripheral device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending a request to the remote device to initiate the cycling of power. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting an error condition and in response to the error condition, cycling the power. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising determining after the cycling of the power whether the error condition is cleared. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a default state of the power switching device is to provide power to the game controller, one or more of the plurality of peripheral devices or combinations thereof to receive power. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more control signals cause a switch position of a switch within the power switching device to change. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to communicate with the remote device via a wired or wireless interface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gaming machine is a gaming table. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising downloading firmware to one of the plurality of peripheral devices.