Gaming Machine Status Icons for Real-Time Operator Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming machine operators face challenges in monitoring and managing the status of gaming machines effectively, particularly in identifying malfunctions and ensuring the availability of profitable machines, as existing methods lack real-time monitoring and visualization capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A controller with a microprocessing unit generates icons with variable visual indicia to represent the status of gaming machines, allowing for real-time updates of these icons based on signal changes, enabling operators to monitor and manage gaming machines more efficiently through a graphical user interface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If traditional monitoring methods are used for gaming machines, then device complexity is reduced, but information availability and real-time status monitoring deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates visual copies (icons) of gaming machines that represent their status. Each icon is a simplified visual representation that can be displayed on a screen, allowing operators to monitor multiple machines simultaneously without physically visiting each one. The icon changes its visual properties to copy the state of the corresponding gaming machine.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical/mechanical monitoring methods with an electronic visual display system. Instead of operators physically checking machines or using mechanical indicators on the machines themselves, the system uses electronic icons displayed on a screen that automatically update to reflect machine status, substituting mechanical interaction with electronic visualization.
2Loss of time
If real-time monitoring of all gaming machines is implemented, then response time to malfunctions is improved, but information processing load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different visual properties to different icons based on their specific status. Each icon can display different colors, symbols, or visual indicators corresponding to different machine states (operational, malfunctioning, maintenance needed, etc.). This allows operators to quickly identify issues without processing detailed data about every machine, as only machines with specific status changes are visually highlighted.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses color changes in the icons to indicate different status conditions of gaming machines. For example, green might indicate operational status, yellow might indicate maintenance needed, and red might indicate malfunction. This visual coding system allows rapid information processing by the human operator, reducing the cognitive load compared to analyzing numerical data from all machines.
3Measurement precision
If detailed status information is displayed for each machine, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to information overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the monitoring interface into individual icons, each representing a specific gaming machine. Each icon can display relevant status information in a compact, organized manner. This segmentation allows operators to focus on specific machines or areas of the casino floor without being overwhelmed by a single large table of data, improving both accuracy and ease of use.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional tabular or text-based status displays to a two-dimensional graphical interface with icons arranged spatially. This dimensional change allows operators to visually scan and comprehend machine statuses more efficiently, as spatial arrangement and visual properties provide immediate information about machine states without requiring detailed text analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A controller of gaming machines includes an input/output module adapted to receive signals that represent a current status of a parameter of the gaming machines. A microprocessing unit generates for each gaming machine(s) an icon having variable visual indicia indicative of a value of the parameter being monitored. The microprocessing unit automatically changes in substantially real-time the visual indicia associated with the icon to reflect a change in the status of the parameter of an associated first gaming machine in accordance with a first received signal.