Gaming Machine Thin Client Support Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gaming machines face challenges in efficiently integrating thin client and thick client game architectures within a regulated and secure environment, requiring a solution that allows for remote determination of game outcomes while maintaining security and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where a gaming machine requests and executes both thin client and thick client games, with the thin client game's outcome determined by a remote game server and reported to a data collection device, while the thick client game's outcome is determined by the gaming machine and also reported, leveraging existing gaming protocols for data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thin client games are deployed with remote outcome determination, then security and regulatory compliance are improved, but device complexity increases due to network integration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the game architecture into thin client components (display and input) and thick server components (outcome determination and logic), allowing security functions to be separated and validated remotely while maintaining simple local device architecture
Solution Approach 2:
A communication interface acts as an intermediary between the thin client gaming machine and the remote thick server, handling protocol translation and data exchange to integrate remote outcome determination without increasing local device complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If thin client games are integrated into existing gaming infrastructure, then adaptability is improved, but loss of information occurs due to protocol compatibility challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The communication interface is designed with multi-functionality to handle multiple gaming protocols (SAS, G2S, and custom protocols), enabling a single interface to adapt to different existing gaming infrastructures without information loss through protocol-specific optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes communication parameters dynamically based on the target infrastructure, adjusting protocol selection, data formats, and transmission methods to ensure full information transfer compatibility across different gaming environments
3Adaptability or versatility
If both thin client and thick client games are supported on the same gaming machine, then versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gaming machine dynamically switches between thin client and thick client operational modes based on game type requirements, using a single unified architecture that adapts its communication and processing behavior rather than maintaining separate fixed systems for each game type
Data Source
AI summary
A gaming machine, such as a video slot or video poker machine, may be configured to request a thin client game from a game server for presentation within a thin client. The outcome of the thin client game is determined by the game server. The gaming machine is also configured to execute a thick client game determined by the gaming machine. Indications of the outcomes of the thin and thick client games may be provided to a data collection device.