Wireless Location Tracking for Electronic Gaming Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing multiple electronic gaming machines in a large casino setting is onerous due to the lack of efficient tools and systems for monitoring and maintaining their operability, leading to difficulties in ensuring they function correctly and are properly located.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that uses wireless transmitters to determine the locations of electronic gaming machines, generating a game floor map, and displaying it on a retailer terminal for management purposes, enabling effective monitoring and management of the machines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual monitoring methods are used to track electronic gaming machines, then the system complexity is low, but the management efficiency and monitoring capability deteriorate when dealing with numerous machines
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic gaming machines automatically transmit their location data and operational status to the central system without requiring manual intervention. The machines self-report their information, enabling automated monitoring and management while reducing the need for manual tracking efforts.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses wireless transmitters that serve multiple functions: they provide location identification, enable tracking of machine movements, and support generation of visual floor maps. This multi-functional approach improves management efficiency without proportionally increasing system complexity.
2Loss of information
If no automated location tracking system is implemented, then the device complexity is low, but the ability to monitor and manage machine locations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual tracking methods with an automated electronic system using wireless transmitters and processors. This substitution provides accurate, real-time location information while the modular architecture keeps the added complexity manageable through standardized communication protocols and pre-defined location areas.
3Reliability
If comprehensive monitoring of all electronic gaming machines is implemented, then the management capability improves, but the time and resources required for monitoring increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors all electronic gaming machines simultaneously through automated wireless communication. The processor receives and processes location data from multiple machines concurrently, providing continuous, reliable monitoring without requiring sequential manual checks, thus eliminating time loss while maintaining high reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, there is described a computer-implemented method comprising: determining locations of a plurality of electronic gaming machines through communications between the electronic gaming machines and at least one wireless transmitter provided at a known location; based on the locations of the plurality of electronic gaming machines, generating a game floor map; and displaying the game floor map on a retailer terminal, the retailer terminal configured to provide management functions for the plurality of electronic gaming machines.