Multipurpose egm/player tracking device and system

Abstract

A device for use in providing gaming related services to a plurality of gaming machines is described herein. The device includes a housing and a processor positioned within the housing. The processor is adapted to communicate with at least one of the plurality of gaming machines using a plurality of EGM communications protocols. The processor for determining an EGM communications protocol associated with the at least one gaming machine and transmitting signals indicative of gaming services to the at least one gaming machine using the determined EGM communications protocol.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for use in providing gaming related services to a plurality of gaming machines, comprising:
 a housing; and   a processor positioned within the housing, the processor adapted to communicate with at least one of the plurality of gaming machines using a plurality of EGM communications protocols, the processor for determining an EGM communications protocol associated with the at least one gaming machine and transmitting signals indicative of gaming services to the at least one gaming machine using the determined EGM communications protocol.   
     
     
         2 . A device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of EGM communications protocol includes at least one of SAS, superSAS, G2S, X-Series and QCOM. 
     
     
         3 . A device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising an EGM communications port coupled to the processor for transmitting data from the processor to the at least one gaming machine, the communications port adapted to transmit data using at least one EGM communications link. 
     
     
         4 . A device in accordance with  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of EGM communications ports, each of the EGM communications ports adapted to transmit data using a different EGM communications link. 
     
     
         5 . A device in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein the at least one EGM communications link includes at least one of RS-232, RS-485, Ethernet, current loop, fiber optic, USB. 
     
     
         6 . A device in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the processor is adapted to communicate with a server computer, the processor for transmitting data between the at least one gaming machine and the server computer to provide the gaming related services from the server computer to the at least one gaming machine. 
     
     
         7 . A device in accordance with  claim 6 , wherein the processor is adapted to communicate with the server computer using a system communications protocol that is different than the determined EGM communications protocol. 
     
     
         8 . A device in accordance with  claim 6 , further comprising at least one server communications port coupled to the processor for transmitting data from the processor to the server computer, the communications port adapted to transmit data using a system communications link. 
     
     
         9 . A device in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein the system communications link includes Ethernet. 
     
     
         10 . A device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a display coupled to the processor for displaying gaming related services to a user. 
     
     
         11 . A device in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising a user interface coupled to the processor for receiving signals indicative of a user's selection input. 
     
     
         12 . A device for use in providing gaming related services to a plurality of gaming machines, comprising:
 a housing;   a first processing device positioned within the housing; and   a second processing device positioned within the housing and coupled to the first processing device, the second processing device comprising a processor adapted to communicate with at least one of the plurality of gaming machines using a plurality of EGM communications protocols, the processor for determining an EGM communications protocol associated with the at least one gaming machine and transmitting signals indicative of gaming services to the at least one gaming machine using the determined EGM communications protocol.   
     
     
         13 . A device in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of EGM communications protocol includes at least one of SAS, superSAS, G2S, X-Series and QCOM. 
     
     
         14 . A device in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising at least one EGM communications port adapted to be coupled to the at least one gaming machine for transmitting data between the device and the at least one gaming machine using at least one EGM communications link. 
     
     
         15 . A device in accordance with  claim 14 , further comprising a plurality of EGM communications ports, each of the plurality of EGM communications ports adapted to transmit data using a different EGM communications link. 
     
     
         16 . A device in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the at least one EGM communications link includes at least one of RS-232, RS-485, Ethernet, current loop, fiber optic, USB. 
     
     
         17 . A device in accordance with  claim 12 , wherein the processor is adapted to communicate with a server computer, the processor for transmitting data between the at least one gaming machine and the server computer to provide the gaming related services from the server computer to the at least one gaming machine. 
     
     
         18 . A device in accordance with  claim 18 , further comprising at least one server communications port adapted to be coupled to the server computer for transmitting data from the device to the server computer using a system communications link. 
     
     
         19 . A device in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising:
 an EGM communications port coupled to the first processing device for transmitting data between the at least one gaming machine and the device; and   a system communications port coupled to the second processing device for transmitting data between a server computer and the device.   
     
     
         20 . A device in accordance with  claim 12 , further comprising a user interface coupled to the processor, the user interface including at least one of a display, a touchless keypad, an ID card reader, a sound project device, and a numeric keypad.