DE20110822U1 - Audit system for electronic game machines - Google Patents

Description

WU, David

3F, No. 48, Nankong Road, Sec. 3, Taipei, Taiwan. R.O.C.

W 979 HO

AUDITING SYSTEM FOR ELECTRONIC GAMING MACHINES

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an infrared light (IR light) auditing system for electronic gaming machines, which reads the data of the machines and prints out cumulative or daily, weekly or monthly revenue or shift reports by means of a microprocessor, wherein the data can also be transferred to a computer for administrative or accounting purposes.

2. State of the art

Electronic gaming machines are typically equipped with a screen or internal counter in a special location on the machine (usually on the top) to display meter readings and usage times so that a supervisor can keep records and perform functions such as auditing, billing, etc.

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At present, domestic and overseas electronic gaming machines use traditional mechanical or electronic counters or an "audit" mode of operation using a television screen. The audit information must be written down by hand for each machine, so the recording speed is slow. If there are more than a hundred machines in a gaming hall and several minutes are spent on each machine, the transmission of the audit information at shift change with three shifts per day takes several hours - not to mention the disruption to customers who have to temporarily stop playing. Handwritten records are also prone to errors and falsification.

Furthermore, the calculations based on the recording are also prone to errors, since the previous values must be subtracted from the values obtained and the result must be calculated for each machine depending on the winning ratio. There are many machines that count the fees differently; therefore, such calculations and checks after recording are not only tedious, but often incorrect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is an IR light auditing system for electronic gaming machines, which has a portable and operable IR transceiver. Each machine is equipped with a data memory. The data from each machine is read out with the IR transceiver and the calculations are carried out immediately (for a few seconds); cumulative and monthly, weekly or daily revenue or shift reports can be printed out separately (without a computer); the data can also be transferred to a computer for administration or accounting purposes.

To achieve the above object, the present invention proposes a data storage and recording device for each electronic game machine having an exposed receiving and transmitting diode; each data access to the game machine is stored in the memory on the motherboard. A portable IR data interrogation transceiver can be used to transmit commands to the data storage and recording device in each machine to transmit the data stored therein back to the machine itself for display on its screen or to a printer adapter or to a computer for management purposes. The entire auditing process can be completed in a very short time and calculations can be performed accurately throughout the system.

The present invention, in its novelty and other characteristics, will become apparent from a reading of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an inventive IR sensor.

ge transceiver in the form of a handheld device;

Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically the cooperation of the IR interrogation transceiver of Fig. 1 with a data storage and recording device installed in a game machine;

Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a printer adapter for

Connection to the IR interrogation transceiver for data transmission to a spreadsheet printer and an administrative computer;

Fig. 4 is a block diagram of a circuit of the IR interrogation transceiver of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 shows the circuit diagram of the arrangement of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a block diagram of a data storage and recording

device according to Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 shows the circuit for the arrangement according to Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 shows a block diagram of a printer adapter according to Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 shows the circuit of the arrangement according to Fig. 8, and

Fig. 10 diagrammatically illustrates the present invention in practical operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the present invention as an IR data interrogation transceiver 10 in the form of a hand-held device which is convenient to carry and operate. In addition to a microprocessor and associated circuitry inside, the IR data interrogation transceiver 10 is provided with an IR transceiver 11 at one end and is equipped with a control keyboard 12 and a liquid crystal display (LCD) 13 on the outside; an on/off switch 14 and a battery pack 15 are also provided.

As shown in Fig. 2, each game machine 90 is associated with a data storage and recording device 20 for cooperating with the IR data interrogation transceiver 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the data storage and recording device 20 is installed on the outside of the machine. This is not necessary; only the transceiver diode 21 of the device 20 needs to be exposed, as shown in the drawing where the diode 21 is located on the machine. It can also be installed at a suitable location inside

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of the machine where transparency is ensured - e.g. with an acrylic glass or glass window - and the operation of the diode 21 is not impaired.

A printer adapter 30 has an IR transceiver terminal 31 at one end and a power connector 32, a printer connector 33 and a computer connector 34 at the other end.

As shown in Fig. 4, the IR data interrogation transceiver 10 has a microprocessor 100; associated components such as a keyboard 102, an on/off switch 104 and an oscillator 105 are connected to the input terminals of the microprocessor 100, while an output and a transmit output of the microprocessor 100 are connected to an LCD screen 103 and an IR transceiver circuit 101, respectively. A calendar circuit 106 and an external data memory 107 are also connected to the microprocessor 100 via corresponding inputs and outputs. The IR signals from the IR circuit 101 can be connected to the microprocessor 100 via a wave rectifier 108 and a receive input.

A: The IR data interrogation transceiver 10 According to Fig. 5, the components that make up the IR data interrogation transceiver 10 have the following structures and functions:

1. Microprocessor 100:

INTERRUPTION SERVICE

(1) External interruptions

If the IR data interrogation transceiver 10 is to send data to the data storage and recording device 20 or the printer adapter 30, the microprocessor places it byte by byte at the transmit output and sends it via the IR circuit 101. When the transmission of a byte is completed,

an external interrupt signal tells the microprocessor 100 that it can send the next byte. When the IR circuit 101 of the handset 10 receives data from the data storage and recording device 20, it passes them to the receive input of the microprocessor 100; with an external interrupt signal they are placed in a queue for acceptance by a program.

(2) Internal interruptions

An internal timer generates internal interrupt signals at fixed intervals; at each interrupt, inputs are read to check whether the keyboard 102 has been operated and, if so, an appropriate handler is called for each keystroke. Should the transmission between the handset 10 and the data storage and recording device 20 or between the handset 10 and the printer adapter 30 fail, a retransmission is requested. At this point, the interrupt signals from the timer can be used to count time intervals; if the connection still fails, the process is terminated to avoid continuous repetitions.

PROCESSING ROUTINE:

(1) Send request to the recording device 20:

A transmission request is sent to the data storage and recording device 20 using IR signals; the data received from the data storage and recording device 20 is output on the LCD screen 103 and stored in the external data memory 107.

(2) Query:

The data of each recording device 20 stored in the external data memory 107 are queried and displayed on the LCD screen 103.

(3) Setting the device 20:

The setting command and the setting value are sent with IR light and thus the

Data storage and recording device 20. The setting value and a confirmation of the transmission are displayed on the LCD screen 103.

(4) Send data to printer adapter 30:

The data from each recording device 20 stored in the external data storage 107 is sent to the printer adapter 30 for printing using IR light.

(5) Set time and date:

The respective date and time are located in a non-volatile memory (of the calendar chip 106) and are displayed on the LCD screen 103.

2. External data storage 107:

The static memory can be written to and read from and can store byte information when a minimum supply voltage is applied. The memory serves as a data storage device; its capacity is sufficient to accommodate the data of each data storage and recording device 20.

3. IR circuit:

Communication between the handheld device 10 and the data storage and recording device 20 or between the handheld device 10 and the printer adapter 30 takes place by means of the signals generated by the IR circuit 101. One byte is transmitted as a unit.

4. Wave rectifier 108:

If data is to be transmitted with IR signals, the bytes are first converted to IR signals at the transmit connection; if the IR circuit receives data, these are first converted accordingly by the wave rectifier 108 and then passed on to the receive connection.

5. LCD screen 103:

The LCD screen 103 is small in size and is used to display data as well as information that allows the operator to determine whether the machine is operating normally.

6. Calendar circuit 106:

The main element of the circuit is a non-volatile, readable and writable memory. It is equipped with an external quartz oscillator so that the memory circuit can act as a clock generator. The circuit works when a minimum voltage is applied. To set the date and time, these are simply written in; if you need the respective time, it is simply read out.

7. Keyboard 102:

This keyboard is a keypad; with each keystroke an electrical level value is applied to the output. The microprocessor 100 then reads the value from the keyboard output and decides whether a key has been pressed and which one.

8. Oscillator 105:

The oscillator 105 operates with a quartz crystal and supplies the time interval sequence required by the microprocessor 100.

9. On/off switch 104:

When a machine is switched on, the power supply comes from the battery; when it is switched off, a backup lithium battery provides the power supply.

B: Data storage and recording device 20:

As shown in Fig. 6, the data storage and recording device 20 may be equipped with another microprocessor 200. An IR transceiver 201, a count detector 202 and an oscillator 203 are each connected to an input and an IR circuit 201 to the transmit output of the microprocessor 200; IR input signals are connected to an input of the microprocessor 200 via a wave rectifier 204. Another non-volatile memory 205 is provided for writing or reading data.

The components of the data storage and recording device 20 according to Fig. 7 have the following structure and functions:

1. Microprocessor 200:

INTERRUPTION SERVICE

(1) External interruptions:

When the data storage and recording device 20 is to send data to the handset 10, the microprocessor 200 breaks the data into a byte sequence, places it on the transmit output, and transmits it through the IR circuit 201. After a byte is completed, an external interrupt signal is generated to inform the microprocessor 200 that it can send the next byte. When the IR circuit 201 receives data from the handset 10, it passes it to the receive input of the microprocessor 200; then an external interrupt signal is generated to add the data to a queue for acceptance by a program.

(2) Internal interruptions:

An internal timer generates internal interrupt signals at fixed time intervals. Some input terminals can be read with each interrupt signal to check whether a coin has been inserted, a result has been output, a result has been cleared, or the like. If yes, ₇ , a corresponding

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action routine is called to change the data in the data storage and recording device 20. If the communication between the handset 10 and the data storage and recording device 20 fails, a repeat transmission is requested. The interrupt signals from the timer are then also used to count the time periods. If the communication still fails, a shutdown takes place to avoid continuous repetitions.

PROCESSING ROUTINE

(1) Send request to handset 10:

A request is sent with IR light from the main board to the IR circuit and to the handset 10.

(2) Set:

The IR circuit 201 receives a set command and a set value from the main board, sets the value and sends an acknowledgement back to the handset 10.

(3) Data change:

When a coin is inserted, the result is displayed, the result is deleted or the coin is returned, the memory content is changed.

(4) Power off procedure:

The data in the data storage and recording device 20 is written to the non-volatile memory so that it can be read the next time the power is turned on.

2. IR circuit 201:

The communication between the handset 10 and the data storage and recording device 20 is carried out by data transmission using the signals generated by the IR circuit 201. One byte is transmitted each time as a unit.

3. Wave rectifier 204:

If data is to be transmitted using IR light, the bytes present at the transmit output are first converted to IR signals. If the IR circuit 201 receives data, it is first converted by the wave rectifier 204 and then applied to the receive input.

4. Non-volatile memory 205:

This is readable and writable, non-volatile memory. The data is written to the memory when the machine is turned off so that it can be read the next time it is turned on.

5. Count detector 202:

The microprocessor 200 detects whether a change occurs in the four counters (coin insertion, result output, result deletion, coin return); if so, the corresponding memory locations are changed.

6. Oscillator 203:

The quartz oscillator 203 provides the clock signal sequence required by the microprocessor 200.

C: Printer adapter 30

As shown in Fig. 8, the printer adapter 30 has another microprocessor 300 and an IR transceiver 301. The IR input signals of the IR transceiver 301 are processed by a wave rectifier 302 and then applied to the microprocessor 300; an oscillator 303 determines the clock signal sequence. Another external data memory 304 is used to store the data sent by the IR data query transceiver. The output of the microprocessor 300 is

to the output 305 or a COM port of the computer; see the connectors 33, 34 in Fig. 3. A printer can be connected to the printer adapter 30 for printing cumulative or daily, weekly or monthly income or shift reports, or a computer can be connected for administrative or accounting purposes.

Fig. 9 shows the printer adapter 30 with the following structure and functions:

1. Microprocessor 300:

INTERRUPTION SERVICE

(1) External interruptions:

When the printer adapter 30 sends data to the handset 10, the microprocessor breaks it into bytes, places them one at a time on the transmit output, and sends them out using the IR circuit. When the transmission of a byte is complete, an external interrupt signal is generated to inform the microprocessor 300 that it can output the next byte. When the printer adapter's IR circuit receives data from the handset 10, it places it on the receive input of the microprocessor 300; then an external interrupt signal is generated to add the data to a queue for acceptance by a program.

When the printer adapter 30 sends data to the computer, the microprocessor 300 divides the data into bytes and places them one by one on the transmit output. When the transmission of a byte is complete, an external interrupt signal is generated to inform the microprocessor 300 that it can send the next byte. Data received from the computer is placed on the receive input of the microprocessor 300; then an external interrupt signal is generated to add the data to a queue for acceptance by a program.

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(2) Internal interruptions:

An internal timer generates internal interrupt signals at fixed time intervals. At each interrupt signal, inputs are read to check whether there is a request from the handset 10 or the computer; if so, an appropriate processing routine is called.

PROCESSING ROUTINE

(1) Print requirement:

To execute a print job, a request and the data to be printed are
Data is sent to the IR circuit 301 and a confirmation back to the handset 10 - each with IR signals.

(2) Requesting a transmission to the computer:

To transfer data to the computer, these go to the COM port of the adapter and via this to the computer.

(3) IR circuit 301:

The data transmission takes place with the signals generated by the IR circuit 301. One byte is transmitted as a unit.

(4) Wave rectifier 302:

If data is transmitted with IR signals, the bytes are first converted to IR signals at the transmit output; if the IR circuit 301 receives data, these are first converted by the wave rectifier 302 and then applied to the receive connection.

(5) Oscillator 303:

The quartz oscillator 303 provides the clock signal sequence required by the microprocessor.

As shown in Fig. 10, in operation of the present invention, the IR data interrogation transceiver 10 can be configured as shown in Fig. 2 and accordingly

the above procedure A to target the data storage and recording device 20 of a gaming machine 90. The data in each machine is read out by IR transmission. In this way, the data from all the machines in a gaming room can be quickly collected and processed by the microprocessor, with the working time for each machine being only a few seconds. By means of the IR data interrogation transceiver 10, the data can be transferred to the printer adapter 30 for direct printing of an audit report by a printer 91 according to the above procedure B as shown in Fig. 10. Likewise, the data can be transferred to a computer 92 as shown in Fig. 10 according to the above procedure.

The auditing system for electronic game machines according to the invention not only does not require any adjustment circuits in the game machines, but also does not require a temporary shutdown of a running game; handwritten records and calculations can be dispensed with. It works quickly and the data collection is more accurate and reliable and is more convenient for systematic management and accounting. It is therefore commercially valuable.

W 979 HO/Cl

DRAWING LABELS

100 microprocessor 101 Infrared switching 102 Keyboard 103 Liquid crystal display (LCD) 104 Power switch 105 oscillator 106 Calendar switching 107 external data storage 108 Wave rectifier time sequence ... Clock input keys in Key input transmitting port Transmit output receiving port Reception entrance infrared signals IR signals transmitting Send receiving Reception 200 microprocessor 201 Infrared circuit 202 detector 203 oscillator 204 Wave rectifier 205 non-volatile memory transmitting port Transmit output receiving port Reception input infrared signal... IR signal input transmitting Send receiving Reception Fig.8 300 microprocessor 301 Infrared circuit 302 Wave rectifier 303 oscillator 304 external data storage 305 Printer output 306 Computer COM port

transmitting Send

receiving reception

data data

signal putting in signal input

receiving port receiving port

transmitting port Transmission output

time sequence ... clock signal input

data printing data printing

RS 485 RS-485 standard conversion

W 979 HO/Cl

Claims (7)

1. An infrared light auditing system for electronic gaming machines, characterized by
an IR data interrogation transceiver for storing a large amount of data and for recording time, which has a built-in microprocessor, a clock generator module, a memory and a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen and is in the form of a conveniently portable and operable handheld device which has control buttons and an on/off switch on the top and an IR transceiver at one end,
a data storage and recording device installed on each game machine and each having a memory for storing data and an exposed transceiver diode for receiving commands from the IR data interrogation transceiver and for transmitting the data contained in the respective data memory to the IR data interrogation transceiver, and
a printer adapter having an IR transceiver terminal at one end for data transmission through the IR data polling transceiver. 2. Auditing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the data storage and recording devices are each arranged externally to an associated one of the gaming machines. 3. Auditing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the data storage and recording devices are each installed in an associated one of the gaming machines. 4. Auditing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the data storage and recording devices each contain internally a unique security identification code. 5. Auditing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the printer adapter can be connected to a printer. 6. Auditing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the printer adapter can be connected to a computer. 7. Auditing system according to claim 1, characterized in that the printer adapter can be connected to a printer and a computer simultaneously.