Casino Mesh Network for Wagering Game Data Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Casinos face challenges in providing a consistent gaming experience across various wagering game devices due to limited network bandwidth, restricted access capabilities, and network congestion, which affects the distribution of software updates and data transfer efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a casino mesh network that enables wireless communication between wagering game devices, allowing them to form a mesh of peers and propagate data through low-powered signals, thereby augmenting the wired communication network, tracking device locations, and incentivizing player participation to increase network efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a wired communication network is used for data distribution, then network stability is maintained, but network bandwidth is limited and data transfer speeds are slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network communication function into two parts: a wired backbone network for stable connectivity and a wireless mesh network for high-speed data distribution. This segmentation allows each network type to operate optimally within its strengths, resolving the contradiction between stability and speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the wired communication network and wireless mesh network into a hybrid architecture. The wired network provides stable connectivity while the wireless mesh layer provides high-speed data transfer, combining the advantages of both networks to simultaneously achieve stability and speed.
2Productivity
If software updates are distributed through the wired network, then update consistency is ensured, but network congestion occurs and update efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces wireless access points as intermediary devices that receive software updates from the wired network and redistribute them wirelessly to gaming devices. This intermediary approach offloads the update distribution burden from the wired network, preventing congestion while maintaining update consistency through centralized control at the access points.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more wagering game devices are added to the network, then gaming capacity increases, but network complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network management function by introducing boundary devices that manage wireless mesh networks independently from the wired backbone. This segmentation allows gaming devices to be added to the wireless mesh without increasing the complexity of the wired network management, as the boundary devices handle the complexity of wireless device integration.
4Ease of operation
If wireless communication is implemented throughout the casino, then player mobility and gaming accessibility improve, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic data transmission in the wireless mesh network, where devices transmit and receive data only when necessary rather than maintaining continuous communication. This periodic action significantly reduces power consumption while maintaining gaming accessibility, as devices can enter low-power states between transmission cycles.
Data Source
AI summary
A mesh communications wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include tracking any number of wireless mesh network devices in relation to a wagering boundary so that the system can manage wagering games. In some embodiments, the operation can include incentivizing players to encourage other players to participate in a mesh network, thus increasing the efficiency of the mesh network. In some embodiments, the operations can include coordinating the presentation of wagering game content between mesh enabled devices.