Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
1
STATUS MONITOR FOR CASINO PRINT SYSTEM AND CORRESPONDING
YIETH.ODS FOR STATUS MONITORING
10 BACKGROUND OE TI IF.. INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of networked printing systems. More
specifically, the present invention relates to printing systems and methods
for use in a casino
gaming environment which provide improved functionality, including the ability
to quickly
and easily create and print custom coupons and vouchers at a gaming machine
printer and to
obtain in real-time printer status of multiple printers on the network.
In a casino gaming environment, it is known to provide data to gaming machines
(e.g.,
slot machines and other types of gaming machines) from a central system server
over a
network. The Assignee of the present invention, TransAct Technologies
Incorporated
(TransAct), has developed a dual port printer for a gaming machine capable of
receiving print
instructions from a local controller resident in the gaming machine via a
first port, and
receiving print instructions from a remotely located central system server via
a second port.
For example, proprietary data, such as voucher (cash) information can be
received over the
first port from the local machine controller and printed, while non-
proprietary data (coupon
data) can be received over the second port from the central system server and
printed, Such a
dual port printer is described in commonly owned U.S. patent no. 6,924,903 and
its related
family of patents and pending applications,.
In such systems, the data provided to the gaming machine printer by the
central system
server or by the gaming machine itself is in a predetermined print layout or
format loaded
onto the server or resident in the gaming machine. Thus, casinos arc unable to
easily modify
the print layout or format or to provide custom coupons targeted to particular
players.
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Typically, software updates are required to change the print layout or format,
which are time
consuming and costly.
It would thus be advantageous to provide casinos with the ability to layout
and
customize coupons and vouchers in a quick and easy manner. It would also be
advantageous
to enable the casino to quickly send such custom coupons and vouchers (or
templates for
custom coupons and vouchers) to the gaming machines. It would be advantageous
if
individual gaming machines, or select groups of gaming machines, could be
targeted with
different custom coupons or vouchers. It would also be advantageous to enable
a Casino I lost
to quickly identify a particular player and provide that player with a custom
coupon or
voucher via the gaming machine printer. In addition, it would be advantageous
to easily
obtain printer status of all or a group of printers on the Casino network in
real-time or near
real-time, without significantly affecting network overhead and data
throughput.
The apparatus and methods of the present invention provide the foregoing and
other
advantages.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a print system for a casino gaming
environment in
which gaming machines are fitted with a dual-port printer. More specifically,
the present
invention relates to systems and methods for monitoring printer status in a
networked gaming
environment in which a gaming machine printer is capable of printing cash
vouchers under
direction of a local controller (e.g., the associated gaming machine) and
printing coupons
under direction from a central system server/controller for the casino.
However, those skilled
in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to a
gaming machine or
casino environment, but rather is applicable to any networked print system
having a plurality
of printers.
In accordance with one example embodiment of a system for monitoring printer
status
in a networked environment in accordance with the present invention, the
system may
comprise, for each of a plurality of printers, a respective server port device
connected to a
communication port of a corresponding printer, each server port device adapted
to receive
real-time printer status information from the corresponding printer. A status
monitor is also
provided for receiving the printer status information from one or more of the
server port
devices. The printer status information is wirelessly broadcast from the
respective server port
devices to an IP address of the status monitor.
The server port device may comprise a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) status
processor for converting the printer status information received from the
printer in a first
format into a second format for broadcast using a UDP protocol. The server
port device may
further comprise a conversion application for converting the printer status
information
received from the printer in a serial format into a TCP format for
communication to the status
monitor via an Ethernet connection either in place of or in addition to the
broadcast using the
UDP protocol.
The Ethernet connection may be one of a wired or a wireless connection.
A server manager may be provided for distributing customized coupons to one or
more targeted recipients at the corresponding printers via the respective
server port devices.
The server manager may comprise the status monitor, such that the IP address
is that of the
server manager.
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The status monitor may be adapted to receive and respond to queries from the
server
manager or a central system server regarding printer status. The status
monitor may
consolidate the status information for one or more of the printers received
from the
corresponding one or more server monitors. The one or more printers may
comprise one of:
all printers in a casino installation; a subset of all the printers in the
casino installation;
selected printers in the casino installation; or selected groups of printers
in the casino
installation.
The status monitor may also enable configuration of a timing of the broadcast.
For
example, the timing of the broadcast may be configured to be on a periodic
basis or each time
the printer status changes.
In one example embodiment, the printer may be embedded in or associated with a
casino gaming machine. The printer may communicate the printer status
infoimation to the
gaming machine via a serial connection. The gaming machine may communicate
print data to
the printer via the serial connection.
The printer status information may comprise at least one of the following
printer
conditions: printer mechanism busy; downloads present; Electronic Gaming
Machine/coupon
flag; printer chassis open; printer chassis closed; print head cover open;
print head cover
closed; top of form; paper low; paper out; paper jam; ticket in chute; print
in progress; print
complete; print incomplete; field of interest 1; field of interest 2; field of
interest 3, and the
like.
The present invention also includes a method for monitoring printer status in
a
networked environment. In an example embodiment of a method f monitoring
printer status in
a networked environment, the method may comprise: for each of a plurality of
printers,
receiving, at a respective server port device connected to a communication
port of a
corresponding printer, real-time printer status information from the
corresponding printer;
wirelessly broadcasting the printer status information from the respective
server port devices
to an IP address of a status monitor; and receiving the printer status
information at the status
monitor from one or more of the server port devices.
The method may also include additional features discussed above in connection
with
the various embodiments of the corresponding system.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the
appended
drawing figures, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and:
Figure 1 shows a block diagram of an example embodiment of a system in
accordance
5 with the present invention.
Figure 2 shows a block diagram of an example embodiment of a gaming machine
with
integral printer in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 3 shows an example embodiment of a customizable coupon in accordance
with
the present invention;
Figure 4 shows an example embodiment of a personal computing device for use by
a
casino host in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 5 shows a further example embodiment of a gaming machine with integral
printer in accordance with the present invention; and
Figure 6 shows a block diagram of an example embodiment of the present
invention
.. capable of real-time monitoring of printer status.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The ensuing detailed description provides exemplary embodiments only, and is
not
intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention.
Rather, the
ensuing detailed description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those
skilled in the
art with an enabling description for implementing an embodiment of the
invention. It should
be understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement
of elements
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in
the appended
claims.
The present invention relates to a print system for a casino gaming
environment in
which gaming machines are fitted with a dual-port printer. In a typical casino
gaming
environment, a dual-port printer is connected to the gaming machine controller
(local
controller) on a first port and a central system server/controller on a second
port. The gaming
machine controller provides the printer with information for printing cash
vouchers. The
central system controller, which may be networked together with all gaming
machines in the
casino (or all gaming machines within a particular area in a casino), provides
the printer with
coupon data.
Figure 1 illustrates an example embodiment of a system 10 for providing
customized
coupons in a casino gaming environment. A printer 14 (e.g., a dual port
printer) is resident in
a gaming machine 12. A block diagram of an example embodiment of a gaming
machine 12
.. with integral printer 14 in accordance with the present invention is shown
in Figure 2. The
printer 14 may have at least one communication port for communications
external to the
gaming machine 12. For example, the printer may have a first communication
port 16 for
communication to an external server (as explained in detail below) and a
second
communication port 18 dedicated to communications with a local controller 24
resident in the
gaming machine 12. A coupon layout generator 26 may be provided for creating
customized
coupons. The server manager 20 is provided for distributing the customized
coupons to one or
more targeted recipients (e.g., particular gaming machine printers 14 and
players thereat). The
server manager 20 may be connected to the first communications port 16 of the
printer
typically designated for a central system server 22. However, since the server
manager 20
generates an Ethernet signal, a server port device 30 is provided in-between
the server
manager 20 and the first communication port 16 of the printer 14. The server
port device 30
converts the Ethernet signal from the server manager 20 to a serial signal
recognizable by the
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printer 14. An IP address is assigned to the server port device 30 and the IP
address, together
with player identification information (obtained as explained in detail
below), is used by the
server manager 20 to determine appropriate coupons for distribution to the
gaming machine
12.
A server port device 30 may be connected in-between the server manager 20 and
each
gaming machine printer 14. The server port device 30 may be resident in each
of the gaming
machines 12. The connection between the server port device 30 and the server
manager 20
may be a wireless Ethernet connection or a wired connection. In a wireless
embodiment, in
order to improve the wireless reception, an access point 32 may be provided on
top of each
gaming machine 12 for receiving the wireless signal from the server manager
20, with a wired
connection between the access point 32 and the server port device 30 resident
within the
gaming machine 12. Alternatively, the server manager 20 and the server port
devices 30 on
each gaming machine 12 may be hardwired together. In either case, the server
port device 30
will receive an Ethernet signal from the server manager 20 and convert this
signal to a high-
speed serial signal for communication to the printer 14. For example, the
server port device 30
may provide data to the printer 14 in one of an RS-232, Netplex, USB,
USB/Netplex, RS-
232/Netplex or I2C format.
The server port device 30 may also be provided with memory 34 to facilitate
such a
data conversion and to buffer data prior to sending it to the printer 14.
Accordingly, the server
port device 30 enables large amounts of data, including print graphics
(including color
graphics), to be sent from the server manager 20 to the printer 14.
The server port device 30 is assigned an IP address. This IP address may be
assigned
by (or otherwise known to) the server manager 20. In this way, the server
manager 20 can
send data to specific gaming machines 12 based on the IP address of the server
port device 30
associated with that gaming machine 12 for purposes of, for example, targeted
advertising and
promotions.
In embodiments in which the printer 14 already includes an Ethernet port
(e.g., port 16
may be an Ethernet port or a further port which is an Ethernet port may be
provided), the
server port device 30 is not needed and the server manager 20 can communicate
directly with
the printer 14 over a wired or wireless connection.
The server manager 20 may be a separate server which is also connected to the
casino's central system server 22. Alternatively, the server manager 20 may be
integrated into
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the casino's central system server 22 or comprise software running on the
central system
server 22. The server manager 20 is capable of managing all the printers 14 on
the network
(or those printers 14 on the network assigned to that server manager 20, as it
is conceivable
that more than one server manager 20 may be used in a large network). For
example, via the
server manager 20 it can be designated which printers 14 will be provided with
a particular
coupon or coupons (or other data, such as software upgrades, printer
templates, promotional
materials, advertisements, cash vouchers, rewards, informational materials,
forms, and the
like, as discussed in further detail below). If the content of the coupon is
directed at all players
in the casino, the server manager 20 will direct all printers 14 in the
network to print the
coupon at the appropriate time (e.g., when a player begins play, ends play, or
reaches a certain
level/time of play). If the content of the coupon is directed to a group of
players or a single
player, the server manager 20 will distribute the coupon(s) for printing
accordingly.
The server manager 20 may be connected to the coupon layout generator 26. The
coupon layout generator 26 may comprise a software program resident in a
computer
connected to the server manager 20 directly or via the central system server
22. Alternatively,
the coupon layout generator 26 may comprise a dedicated device. In either
case, the coupon
layout generator 26 may be connected (wired or wirelessly) to the server
manager 20. The
coupon layout generator 26 provides the ability to quickly create custom
coupons,
promotional materials, advertisements, rewards, informational materials,
forms, and the like
(all collectively referred to herein as "coupons").
Figure 3 shows a sample coupon 40 that can be produced by the coupon generator
26.
The coupons may be color coupons. In particular, the coupons may he "two-
color" or "full-
color" coupons, which colors correspond to the printing capabilities of the
gaming machine
printers 14. The coupon layout generator 26 may also be used to create
templates for coupons
and/or cash vouchers which can be communicated to the local controllers 24 of
the gaming
machines 12 (e.g., via the server manager 20) and retained in memory (e.g.,
printer memory
28 or memory of the local controller 24) for use in printing cash vouchers or
coupons under
control of the local controller 24 of the gaming machine 12. Variable data 42
can then be sent
to the printer 14, along with a print command. The variable data 42 and print
command may
be provided by either the server manager 20 or the local controller 24 of the
gaming machine
12. Pre-defined fields of the stored templates can be populated with the
received variable data
42 prior to printing of the coupon 40 (or voucher, etc.). Similarly, graphics
can be
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communicated to the printer memory 28 and stored therein for use in populating
the
appropriate graphic field(s) 44 of a template upon receipt of the appropriate
command.
Gaming machines 12 typically have a card reader 29 adapted to read a player's
identification card. As is known in the art, such a card tracks each player's
gaming habits
(including but not limited to personal information, preferences, dates and
times of play,
amount spent, winnings, and the like). As each gaming machine 12 is in
communication with
the server manager 20 and/or a player tracking database 50 (directly or via
the central system
server 22), the server manager 20 is able to indentify the players at each
gaming machine (as
long as the player's card is inserted in the card reader) via information from
the player
.. identification card provided to the system 10 by the card reader 29. If no
card is inserted, the
server manager 20 will be aware that an un-carded player is playing a
particular gaming
machine 12, and appropriate coupons, rewards, and advertising materials can be
targeted to
such un-carded players with incentives to obtain their identification cards.
Coupons may be provided to a particular gaming machine 12 based on at least
one of
the player identification information, playing time on the gaming machine 12,
amount spent
on game play, amount won or lost on gaming machine 12, average amount spent
per casino
trip, gaming machine denomination, data tracked by a player tracking database
50, and the
like. The player identification information may include at least one of
demographic
infoimation, individual player characteristics, player habits, gaming
tendencies, player
preferences, time since last visit, expected next visit, player ranking,
player tier, and the like.
The server manager 20 may direct coupons to individual players, groups of
players, or
all players depending on predetermined promotional rules (e.g., generated by a
rules generator
54 as discussed in detail below). The server manager 20 may also manage the
distribution of
real-time advertising and promotional materials, and related information, to
the gaming
machine 12 for printing at the printer 14, as discussed in detail below.
In addition, coupons may be directed to a particular player by a Casino Host
via an
application 62 running on a portable personal computing device (host device)
60, such as that
shown in Figure 4. Various coupons (e.g., developed and provided by the coupon
layout
generator 26) can be stored in memory 68 on the personal computing device 60
or accessed
by the portable personal computing device 60 from another networked location
(e.g., the
server manager 20, coupon generator 26, or a networked storage device 56). The
Host may
walk the Casino floor with the personal computing device 60 and identify one
or more players
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at particular gaming machines 12 that the host desires to send a coupon or
voucher to. The
Host can then choose a stored coupon to send to the gaming machine(s) 12 being
played by
the identified player(s). After selecting the coupon, the Host can enter any
variable data into
the coupon if required (e.g., name of player, machine identification
information, coupon
5 value, expiration date, or other coupon information) via a user interface
64 on the personal
computing device 60 and send the coupon to the gaming machine 12. The personal
computing
device 60 may he wirelessly connected to at least one of the server manager 20
and the server
port device 30. Where the personal computing device 60 is wirelessly connected
to the server
manager 20, the coupon may be routed through the server manager 20, which can
match the
10 player name or machine identification number to the gaming machine 12 or
to the
corresponding player identification information obtained from the player
information card. In
this way the server manager 20 can identify the IP address of the server port
device 30 of the
appropriate gaming machine 12 and forward the coupon or voucher from the
personal
computing device 60 to the corresponding gaming machine printer 14.
Alternatively, where
the personal computing device 60 is wirelessly connected to the server port
device 30, the
coupon may be routed directly to the server port device 30 of the particular
gaming machine
12 and printed at printer 14.
The player name, machine identification number, or IP address of the server
port
device 60 associated with the gaming machine 12 (or other information used to
identify a
particular gaming machine 12 or its server port device 30) may be manually
entered into the
personal computing device 60. Alternatively, the gaming machines 12 and/or the
server port
devices 30 may be provided with barcodes 36 (as shown in Figure 2) containing
the individual
identification information for the particular gaming machine 12 or its
associated server port
device 30. In such an embodiment, the personal computing device 60 may be
provided with a
bar code reader 66 (either in the form of a software application, a built-in
barcode reader, or
plug-in hardware device). The barcode reader 66 of the personal computing
device 60 can
identify the gaming machine 12/server port device 30 by reading the barcode 36
of the
gaming machine 12 or its associated server port device 30.
Alternatively, the personal computing device 60 may be used to read a barcode
on the
player identification card to obtain the player identification information,
which can then be
used to send a coupon to the gaming machine 12 being played by the player. In
addition, the
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personal computing device 60 may be adapted to read the magstripe on the
player
identification card to obtain the player identification information.
As shown in Figure 5, the gaming machine (or the associated server port device
30)
may alternatively be provided with an RFID tag 37. The personal computing
device 60 may
be enabled to read the RFID tag (e.g., via a software application, a built-in
RFID tag reader
66, or a plug-in RFID tag reader). The personal computing device 60 can thus
obtain the
identification information for a particular gaming machine 12, or the IP
address of the gaming
machine's server port device 30, via the RFID tag.
Alternatively, the personal computing device 60 can route the coupon or
voucher
directly to the server port device 30 (e.g., via a wireless connection) for
printing at the printer
14. For example, the personal computing device 60 may act as a secondary
server manager
and have a version of the server manager software 62 installed on it. In such
an embodiment,
the personal computing device 60 may also be in communication with the main
server
manager 20 to provide such transaction details for Casino record keeping
(either at the time of
each such transaction or in a batch transfer at designated intervals).
Further, in such an
embodiment the personal computing device 60 may also be connected to the
coupon layout
generator 26 so that updated coupons and vouchers can be provided.
Alternatively, a version
of the coupon layout generator software 62 may be installed on the personal
computing device
60 so that custom coupons, vouchers, promotional materials, advertising
materials, and the
like can be created as needed by the Host on the personal computing device 60.
The portable personal computing device 60 may comprise an iPADTM or equivalent
tablet computing device, laptop computer, netbook, or the like. Those skilled
in the art will
appreciate that the portable personal computing device 60 may also comprise
smart phones
such as a BlackberryTM, iPhoneTM, DrOlCITM, or the like, or an iTouchml, or
similar devices, as
long as the device has the required processing power to run the application,
sufficient data
storage, and wireless connectivity.
The coupons can be modified to target specific players or classes of players.
The
coupons can also be directed to all players. The present invention enables
direct marketing to
gaming machine players and provides players with incentives for increased
visits and
extended playing time. The system 10 is easy to install, as the server manager
20 is easily
integrated into the casino's network and the server port device 30 simply
plugs into the
existing port 16 on the dual port printer 14 that is normally in communication
with the central
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system server 22. The remaining printer port 18, connected to the local
controller 24 resident
in the gaming machine 12, is unaffected by the present system.
The system 10 will also advantageously allow players to skip the normal stop
at the
casino promotions booth to collect weekly coupons. Instead, the coupons can be
targeted to
each player once that player inserts his or her card into a gaming machine 12.
This provides
an advantage to the player and the casino, since the players can avoid waiting
in line at the
promotions booth and proceed directly to the gaming machines 12 and thereby
gain additional
playing time.
The system 10 also enables real-time advertising and promotions. For example,
coupons with advertisements can be sent to the gaming machine printers 14
advertising
current or upcoming specials, events, promotions or player attractions. In
addition, such
coupons can include "bounce-back" promotions, offering incentives (e.g., free
play or
discounts) if the player returns in a predetermined amount of time. The
coupons may also
enable the casino to drive specific player actions, by providing incentives
for play between
certain dates and/or times, or providing rewards for playing on a certain
date. The system 10
can also be configured to automatically complete and print forms for contest
entries and event
entries for a particular player at the gaming machine 12. Tickets to shows and
other events
can also be purchased and printed at the gaming machine 12 (e.g., in exchange
for money
remaining on the machine or money added to the machine). This enables the
casino to obtain
revenue for otherwise unsold tickets and to capture players dollars that may
otherwise be
cashed out. Real-time retail and food and drink coupons can also be sent to
and printed at
each gaming machine 12. Gaming tournament entries and results can also be sent
to and
printed at the gaming machines 12. Also, targeted birthday and anniversary
promotions and
discounts may be sent to individual players. Contest and tournament results
the player is
involved in can also be sent to and printed at the gaming machine 12. Further,
hotel
promotions and discounts may be sent to and printed at the gaming machine 12.
Tax forms
(e.g., that may be required as a result of any gambling proceeds) may be
provided as well.
Other types of coupons and forms may also be provided to and printed at the
gaming
machines 12 in accordance with the present invention, as will be apparent to
those of ordinary
skill in the art.
The coupon layout generator 26 enables the design and creation of custom
coupons 40
(or templates for coupons/vouchers). Any number of different coupons can be
created.
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Graphics 44 and logos can be imported into the coupons 40 and the
corresponding data can be
converted by the system into a format recognizable by the printer 14. Barcodes
46 can be
supported by the coupon layout generator 26. In particular, barcodes 46 can
either be
imported into a coupon 40 from an outside source 70 associated with the casino
(e.g., a
service provider such as a hotel, restaurant, retail establishment, or the
like) or created at the
coupon layout generator 26 for insertion into a coupon. The barcodes 46 may be
read by the
service provider's barcode reader when redeemed by the player as is typically
the case when
coupons are redeemed by a customer. This barcode information can then be
provided back to
the central system server 22 and used to track the use of the coupons.
Multiple coupons can be
created and saved for later use. It should be appreciated that the application
program interface
for the coupon layout manager can be presented in any language. Similarly, the
coupons can
be created in any language or converted from one language to another (e.g.,
for example, to
send to both English speaking players and players speaking a foreign
language).
As discussed above, the server manager 20 sends coupons received from the
coupon
layout generator 26 to specific gaming machine printers 14 on the floor based
on the IP
address of the server port device 30 associated with that printer 14 (or an IP
address
associated with the printer in the case of an Ethernet printer). The server
manager 20 may be
adapted to add dynamic text to the coupon, such as an expiration date, event
date, or the like.
The server manager 20 may include an application program interface which
enables links to
player tracking databases 50 and other sources or systems (outside sources 70)
within or
associated with the casino (e.g., point-of-sale systems at retail
establishments, restaurants, and
other vendors (for discounts, promotions, barcode information, etc.), theater
computer
systems (for determining available theater seating for events), hotel computer
systems (for
reservation information, room discounts, and the like) and others). The server
manager 20 is
also enabled to select individual or multiple gaming machines 12 and send
coupons to such
machine(s) 12 for printing.
The server port device 30 may be a plug-in device that connects to the printer
14
without any modification thereto. Thus, the server port device 30 is a simple
upgrade to
existing gaming machine printers 14 that enables the printing of custom
coupons, as discussed
in detail above. However, the server port device 30 provides additional
beneficial
functionality. For example, the server port device 30 also enables the
downloading of printer
firmware, the monitoring of printing events and printer status (as discussed
in more detail
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below), and custom configuring of each gaming machine printer 14. Such
functionality
reduces gaming machine downtime and reduces maintenance costs.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the server port device 30 also
enables
communications from the gaming machine 12 back to the server manager 20, the
central
system server 22, and/or to the player tracking database 50. In this way, the
server manager 20
can be provided with identifying data regarding the player and the gaming
machine 12 being
played, so that coupons can he targeted directly to the player based on the
player's
demographics, individual characteristics, habits, gaming tendencies, and the
like.
As discussed above, an Ethernet connection is required for connecting the
server
manager 20 to the printer 14. Such a connection is enabled by the server port
device 30, which
has an Ethernet input and which converts the Ethernet signal into a high-speed
serial signal
that the printer 14 can accept. The Ethernet connection between the server
manager 20 and the
server port device 30 can be wired or wireless as discussed above. A wireless
connection is
more advantageous, as a wired connection will require high speed Ethernet
cables and
adequate data closet for each machine to be connected. The wireless connection
does not
interfere with the gaming machine 12 (other than the possible addition of a
wireless access
point 32 on top of the machine as discussed above).
The system may further comprise a rules generator 54 associated with the
server
manager 20 for creating and modifying rules governing when coupons are to be
sent to the
gaming machine 12. For example, a rule may be created that prints a coupon
once a player
reaches a predetermined period of cumulative play on one or more gaming
machines 12
during a single casino visit. Parameters for the rule may be modified once the
rule is created.
For example, for an offer that was originally created to pay out after 60
minutes of play, the
predetermined cumulative time period can be changed from 60 minutes to 90
minutes. Other
rules can be imagined and are within the scope of the present invention.
In addition, the system may further comprise a simulator 58 associated with
the server
manager 20 for simulating coupon distribution based on actual play on a gaming
machine 12
over a predetermined time period without actually generating and printing the
coupons. A
data set for the actual play over the predetermined time period may be
recorded. Multiple
simulations for a promotion may be run on the data set, each promotion having
different
parameters for coupon issuance. The simulator 58 may be run in the background
during actual
game play or recorded game play, without actually generating or printing any
coupons, in
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order to test expected results of particular promotions. This allows a casino
to see the amount
of coupons that would have been printed for a given promotion with a given set
of parameters.
The system may also comprise a scheduling tool 59 associated with the server
manager 20 for scheduling promotions and coupon distribution. For example, the
scheduling
5 tool 59 may be used to schedule when certain promotions will be active or
inactive, such as
during certain times of the day, days of the week, times of year, seasons, and
the like. The
server manager 20 may automatically distribute coupons corresponding to a
scheduled
promotion to the printer 14 in accordance with scheduling information obtained
from the
scheduling tool 59.
10 The system may also comprise a software application for a personal
computing device
80 of a gaming machine player (e.g., a smart phone, tablet computer, or the
like). The
software application may enable the player to at least one of: select types of
coupons to be
received from the casino; input or update personal identification information
to the casino;
input or update demographic information; select from a group of offered
coupons or
15 promotions and enable the selection to print automatically from the
gaming machine that the
player plays next; complete tournament and contest entry forms; review
tournament and
contest results; receive advertising, promotional materials, or rewards from
the casino or a
retail establishment associated with the casino, or the like. The selected
coupons or other
material can then be printed from a gaming machine printer the next time the
player visits the
casino and inserts his or her player identification card. This application may
be provided as
part of a Casino's current downloadable player application or made to look
like an offering
from a particular casino.
As shown in Figure 6, the server port device 30 communicates with the server
manager 20 over an Ethernet connection 72 using TCP protocol and includes a
conversion
application 74 for converting the Ethernet signal to a serial signal
recognizable by the printer
14. Communications between the server port device 30 and printer 14 requires
the
establishment of a connection 76 (opening a port) to the printer 14 for
transmission of data
and status. These ports/connections 72, 76 are typically opened for
transmission of data and
then closed when idle to limit system overhead. Although Figure 6 shows only a
single
printer 14 and server port device 30 for ease of explanation, as discussed
above it should be
appreciated that there are typically multiple printers 14 on the network, each
with an
associated server port device 30. One of the problems with monitoring the
status of a large
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16
number of printers using TCP protocol is the necessity of continually opening
and closing
large numbers of these ports. If done sequentially, the system overhead
required becomes
significant and the real-time state of the printer 14 cannot be accurately
monitored.
Accordingly, in a further example embodiment of the present invention as shown
in
Figure 6, each server port device 30 is adapted to receive real-time printer
status information
from the corresponding printer 14. A status monitor 82 is provided for
receiving the printer
status information from one or more of the server port devices 30. The printer
status
information may be wirelessly broadcast from the respective server port
devices 30 to an IP
address of the status monitor.
The server port device may include a UDP status processor 78 which utilizes
User
Datagram Protocol (UDP). UDP protocol does not require the establishment of
connections
and thus allows multiple server port devices 30 to broadcast printer status to
a single IP
address (e.g., an IP address of the status monitor 82, which may be resident
in the server
.. manager 20) in real time. Each server port device 30 receives printer
status from its associated
printer 14 over the serial port connection 76 and provides the printer status
to the UDP status
processor 78. The UDP status processor 78 converts the printer status
information received
from the printer from a first format (e.g., a serial format) into a second
format for
broadcasting using UDP protocol. In addition to the UDP broadcast (or
alternatively thereto),
the serial port device 30, via the conversion application 74, can convert the
printer status
information from the serial format received from the printer into a TCP format
for
communication to the status monitor 82 via an Ethernet connection. The
Ethernet connection
may be a wired or a wireless connection.
The status monitor 82 may be located at the server manager 20 as shown in
Figure 6.
In such an embodiment, the IP address of the status monitor is the same as
that of the server
manager 20. Alternatively, the status monitor 82 may be implemented separately
from the
server manager 20 (e.g., as part of the central system server 22 or a stand
alone device) with a
unique IP address. The status monitor 82 may consolidate the status
information received
from all printers 14 in a casino installation (or a designated subset or
selection of such printers
14). The status monitor 82 can also be queried by the server manager 20 (or
central system
server 22) to obtain real time printer status.
The timing of the broadcast is configurable by the status monitor 82 such that
the
server port devices 30 can be set to broadcast printer status either on a
periodic basis or
=
17
whenever printer status changes. Thus, the status of all printers 14 on the
network (or a
designated subset of printers 14) can be provided to the status monitor 82 in
real-time or near
real-time, without significantly affecting network overhead and data
throughput.
As shown in Figure 6, the printer 14 may also communicate its status to the
associated
gaming machine 12 via a serial connection 84. The gaming machine 12 also
communicates
print data (e.g., for vouchers) to the printer 14 via the serial connection
84.
The status conditions supported by the status monitor 82 may include: Printer
Mechanism Busy; Downloads Present (riot power cycled). EGM/Coupon Flag (used
to
determine the source of a mechanism busy notification, including whether the
printer is
printing a cash voucher from the local controller (gaming machine 12) or a
coupon from a
central system controller); Printer Chassis Open/Closed; Print head Cover
Open/Closed; Top
of Form; Paper Low; Paper Out; Paper Jam; Ticket in Chute; Print in Progress;
Print
Complete; Print Incomplete; Field of Interest 1; Field of Interest 2; Field of
Interest 3; and the
like. The "Fields of Interest" may be defined in the document template (coupon
or cash
voucher), such that, once a defined field of interest is printed, the printer
reports on that status.
All of these status conditions are defined by the Gaming Device Standard (GDS)
printer
protocol.
Methods corresponding to the system embodiments provided above are also
included
within the scope of the present invention.
Additional details regarding various aspects of the present invention may be
found in
Promotional Printing System Requirements Document v2.5 attached to U.S.
provisional
application no. 61/404,525 filed on October 4, 2010 at Appendix A
It should now be appreciated that the present invention provides advantageous
methods and apparatus for providing, inier alio, customizable coupons to
gaming machines
and improved monitoring of printer status.
Although the invention has been described in connection with various
illustrated
embodiments, numerous modifications and adaptations may be made thereto
without
departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the
claims.
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