Gaming Terminal Common Game Update via Centralized Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current gaming machines require significant effort to change common games across multiple terminals, as exchanging storage media is labor-intensive and time-consuming due to player boredom with repetitive games.

Innovation Solution

A gaming machine system where each terminal has a terminal-side game information storage device for common and individual games, connected to a collective control device with a game information management system, allowing for centralized management and automatic updating of common game information, enabling quick changes to common games across all terminals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If common game programs are stored in storage media attached to each gaming terminal, then the common game can be run in multiple terminals, but exchanging storage media to change games requires significant manual work

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to change common gamesVSAvoidworkload for changing games

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies copying by storing the common game program in both the storage medium attached to each terminal and in the storage device of the collective control device. When game changes are needed, the collective control device can transmit the updated common game program to all terminals simultaneously, eliminating the need for manual storage medium exchange at each terminal while maintaining the ability to run common games across multiple terminals.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Productivity

If storage media are exchanged manually to update common games, then game content can be changed, but the process is time-consuming and labor-intensive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of updating common gamesVSAvoidtime required for media exchange

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of manual storage medium exchange with an automated electronic transmission system. The collective control device uses communication lines to transmit the common game program digitally to all gaming terminals, substituting the physical mechanical process of removing and inserting storage media with an automated data transmission process that occurs rapidly without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the collective control device prepare and store the updated common game program in advance in its own storage device. When it is time to update games across terminals, the collective control device can immediately transmit the pre-prepared program to all terminals simultaneously, rather than preparing and exchanging storage media at each terminal sequentially.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Extent of automation

If each terminal has its own storage medium with common game programs, then games can be run independently, but centralized management and quick updates become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecentralized game managementVSAvoidsystem structure for updates

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the storage function for common game programs from individual terminals into a centralized storage device at the collective control device. While terminals retain their own storage media for individual game programs and local execution, the common game program storage and management is combined at the collective control device level, enabling centralized management and simultaneous updates to all terminals through a single transmission source.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS8480476B2Gaming machine capable of running common game, and communication control method thereof

Publication Date: 2013.07.09 INTERBLOCK DOO

AI summary

A slot machine 10 transmits a game information requesting command when being booted. An external controller 200, when receiving the game information requesting command, transmits common game information stored in a RAM 243, which information for use in running a common game, to the slot machine 10. The slot machine 10 runs the common game based on the common game information received from the external controller 200.