Gaming Machine Communications Interface for Secure Remote Configuration
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current gaming machines are difficult to reconfigure, lack processing power, and have limitations in data communication and security, making it challenging to provide dynamic and secure gaming experiences across multiple establishments.
Innovation Solution
A smart communications interface with input/output ports, processors, and markup language viewers that enable communication with external servers, facilitate game and service downloads, and allow for voice over internet protocol communication, while ensuring data integrity and security through redundant information storage and secure protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current gaming machines are configured to be reconfigurable, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases and security risks worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a communications interface as an intermediary component that mediates between the gaming machine and external networks. This interface handles configuration data transmission, allowing the machine to be reconfigured remotely without physical access or complex manual procedures, thus improving adaptability while managing complexity through automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The gaming machine is equipped with a processor that automatically processes configuration data received through the communications interface. The system can self-reconfigure by receiving, parsing, and implementing configuration instructions without requiring manual intervention from operators, thereby improving adaptability while reducing operational complexity.
2Loss of information
If gaming machines are connected to networks for data communication, then information exchange capability is improved, but security risks and data integrity concerns worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The communications interface serves as a secure intermediary that controls and filters all data exchanges between the gaming machine and external networks. It validates incoming configuration data and manages outgoing game data, ensuring that only authorized information passes through while maintaining security protocols and data integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates and transmits copies of configuration data and game information through the communications interface rather than exposing the original sensitive data. This allows information exchange while maintaining security by working with replicated data that can be validated and controlled during transmission.
3Power
If gaming machines have limited processing power, then device simplicity is maintained, but ability to utilize and display data worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts complex processing functions from the gaming machine itself and relocates them to external servers or systems connected through the communications interface. The gaming machine retains only essential local processing, while data-intensive operations such as configuration management, data analysis, and display generation are performed externally, allowing the machine to effectively utilize and display data without requiring high local processing power.
4Adaptability or versatility
If gaming machines are reconfigured by operators, then adaptability is improved, but time consumption and operational difficulty worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The gaming machine automatically receives and processes configuration data through the communications interface without requiring manual operator intervention. Configuration changes can be implemented remotely and automatically, reducing reconfiguration time from manual procedures to automated data transmission and processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The communications interface acts as an automated intermediary that handles the entire configuration process by receiving configuration data from external sources, validating it, and transmitting it to the gaming machine's processor for automatic implementation, eliminating time-consuming manual reconfiguration steps.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a system and method for an improved communications interface for a gaming machine. Certain embodiments of an improved gaming network include a gaming system including a communication interface, and a server providing at least one of an application, a service, and a status to the gaming system. The communication interface initiates communication with the server to transmit and/or receive information. The communication interface may allow games or other applications/services to be downloaded to the gaming system. In an embodiment, the communication interface facilitates voice over internet protocol communication, for example. The communication interface may also provide a secondary game at the gaming system and/or access to the Internet or other network, for example. In an embodiment, the communication interface facilitates purchase and/or confirmation of items and/or services at the gaming system. The communication interface may translate information to an appropriate protocol for the gaming system.