U.S. patent application number 09/742305 was filed with the patent office on 2002-06-27 for ticket manufacturing device for distribution of virtual tickets into a gaming environment.
This patent application is currently assigned to LABTRONIX CONCEPT INC.. Invention is credited to Duhamel, Gerald, Macke, Michael Mayo.
Application Number | 20020082070 09/742305 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24984287 |
Filed Date | 2002-06-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020082070 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Macke, Michael Mayo ; et
al. |
June 27, 2002 |
Ticket manufacturing device for distribution of virtual tickets
into a gaming environment
Abstract
The invention consists to a ticket manufacturing device to
create populations of virtual tickets for a use into a gaming
environment. It records these populations on removable updateable
cartridges that will be used in the gaming environment. Further, it
provides a secure method of managing the use of the ticket
manufacturing device. Further, the ticket manufacturing device
permits to collect and archive information about the played,
redeemed and non-played tickets, therefore having a game that meets
the North American Gaming Regulations Association requirements for
the class II games. Furthermore, the ticket manufacturing device
archives additional information that can be analyzed to increase
knowledge of gaming facilities managers about these games.
Inventors: |
Macke, Michael Mayo;
(Duluth, GA) ; Duhamel, Gerald; (Drummondville,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DOWELL & DOWELL PC
SUITE 309
1215 JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
|
Assignee: |
LABTRONIX CONCEPT INC.
|
Family ID: |
24984287 |
Appl. No.: |
09/742305 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2000 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
463/16 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F 17/32 20130101;
G07F 17/3234 20130101; G07F 17/3248 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
463/16 |
International
Class: |
A63F 009/24 |
Claims
wWat is claimed is:
1. A ticket manufacturing device (TMD) for recording a population
of virtual tickets for use in a gaming environment, said TMD
comprising: an internal memory to keep prize distribution schedules
used for the creation of said population of virtual tickets; a
creation program to transform information from said prize
distribution schedule into a said population of virtual tickets;
and a communication port allowing to record said population of
virtual tickets in a non-volatile data recording medium.
2. The TMD of claim 1 further comprising a user interface allowing
operators to make choices regarding said prize distribution
schedule.
3. The user interface of claim 2 further comprising a display
allowing display of said choices and controls communicating said
choices to said TMD.
4. The TMD of claim 1 further comprising a security communications
module with encryption capability to communicate said population of
said virtual tickets to a said non-volatile data recording medium
comprising also a compatible said security communication
module.
5. The TMD of claim 4 for which said security communications module
is a micro-controller with internal EEPROM memory, further said
internal EEPROM memory comprising a security program controlling
all communications through said micro-controller, therefore
rendering communications through said micro-controllers exclusive
and secure.
6. The TMD of claim 1 further comprising a non-volatile memory
module archiving data regarding said TMD components and use of said
TMD, further allowing verification of said data in said
non-volatile memory module before authorizing operation of said
TMD.
7. The TMD of claim 1 further comprising: a communications port to
transmit information regarding use of said TMD to a archiving
device; and a communication program to control communication
between said TMD and said archiving device.
8. The TMD of claim 1 further comprising: a communications port to
transmit information contained in said non-volatile recording
medium to a archiving device; and a communication program to
control communication between said non-volatile recording medium
and said archiving device via said TMD.
9. The TMD of claim 7 for which said archiving device is in a
remote location.
10. The TMD of claim 1, wherein said creation program comprises
steps of: using a random number generator to determine the order of
said virtual tickets; and identifying each of said virtual tickets
with a unique identification number.
11. The TMD of claim 3 wherein said controls comprises touch screen
controls.
12. The TMD of claim 7 for which communications with said archiving
device use a local area network.
13. The TMD of claim 7 for which communications with said archiving
device use an Internet connection.
14. The TMD of claim 7 for which said archiving device consists of
a computer connected to said TMD via an Ethernet cable.
15. The TMD of claim 1 further comprising a keyhole wherein a key
must be inserted to authorize operation of said TMD.
16. The TMD of claim 1 further comprising a magnetic key that must
be applied on a receiving disk to authorize operation of said
TMD.
17. The TMD of claim 1 for which a unique identification code
corresponding to said TMD is transmitted to said non-volatile data
recording mediums while recording said populations of virtual
tickets rendering the said non-volatile data recording mediums
unreadable by another said TMD.
18. The TMD of claim 6 for which the changing a principal component
of said TMD and verification of said non-volatile memory module
conducts to an automatic refusal of operation of said TMD.
19. The TMD of claim 3 for which a pin number is entered with said
controls to authorize operation of said TMD.
20. The TMD of claim 1 further comprising: a communications port to
transmit information contained in said non-volatile data recording
medium to a updateable memory; and a communication program to
automatically transmit said information in said updateable memory
to a said archiving device afterwards when a predetermined number
of said non-volatile data recording mediums transmitted information
to said updateable memory.
21. A method of managing gaming devices using virtual tickets, said
method comprising steps of: generating a population of said virtual
tickets at a data recording station; recording said population of
virtual tickets on a non-volatile data recording medium at said
data recording station; and distributing individually each said
virtual tickets via said non-volatile data recording medium to said
gaming devices, further each said virtual tickets being used to
determine the outcome of one play of a said gaming device.
22. The method of claim 21 further comprising steps of recording
complementary data on said non-volatile data recording medium
regarding the play of said virtual tickets on said gaming devices,
said complementary data being determined by said gaming
devices.
23. The method of claim 22 further comprising step of transmitting
data contained in said non-volatile data recording medium to said
data recording station before step of recording a new said
population of virtual tickets on said non-volatile data recording
medium.
24. The method of claim 23 further comprising step of transmitting
to an archiving device data of said non-volatile data recording
mediums.
25.The method of claim 24 further comprising step of analyzing said
data to increase knowledge about play of said virtual tickets on
said gaming devices.
26. The method of claim 22 further comprising steps of: archiving
outside information regarding gaming devices coming from an outside
source other than said non-volatile data recording medium; and
analyzing together said outside information and said data to
increase knowledge regarding about play of said virtual tickets on
said gaming devices.
27. The method of claim 22 within said complementary data comprise
data regarding players via a player tracking system in said gaming
devices.
28. The method of claim 27 wherein a smart card, a pin number
entered before play, or a VIP card takes part of said player
tracking system.
29. A method of managing gaming devices using virtual tickets, said
method comprising steps of: generating a population of said virtual
tickets; distributing individually each said virtual tickets to
said gaming devices, further each said virtual tickets being used
to determine the outcome of a play of a said gaming device;
recording data regarding the play of said virtual tickets on said
gaming devices and said complementary data determined by said
gaming devices on a non-volatile data recording medium.
30. The method of claim 29 further comprising step of transmitting
data contained in said non-volatile data recording medium to a data
recording station.
31. The method of claim 30 further comprising step of transmitting
to an archiving device data of said non-volatile data recording
mediums.
32. The method of claim 30 further comprising step of analyzing
said data to increase knowledge about play of said virtual tickets
on said gaming devices.
33. A method of distribution of ticket manufacturing devices
(TMD's) and non-volatile data recording mediums for their use in a
gaming environment, said method comprising steps of: manufacturer
selling said TMD's and said and non-volatile data recording mediums
to a distributor; said distributor selling said TMD's and said and
non-volatile data recording mediums to gaming facilities; said
gaming facility recording with a said TMD up to a limited number of
populations of virtual tickets successively onto said and
non-volatile data recording mediums; said gaming facility
communicating a report of use of the said TMD comprising a report
code to said distributor after recording said limited number of
said and non-volatile data recording mediums on the said TMD; said
distributor communicating said report code to said manufacturer;
said manufacturer communicating a response code in regards to said
report code to said distributor; said distributor communicating
said response code to said gaming facility; said gaming facility
entering said response code in the said TMD, said response code
therefore unlocking the said TMD for an additional recording of
said limited number of said and non-volatile data recording
mediums; and repeating the precedent steps until a predetermined
total number of said and non-volatile data recording mediums
corresponding to the life of the said TMD has been recorded.
34. The method of claim 33 for which said report of use comprises
information regarding the value of said populations of virtual
tickets distributed by said non-volatile data recording
mediums.
35. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of
automatically locking the said TMD when a number of recordings
overshooting a predetermined number of recordings of said
non-volatile data recording mediums corresponds to said limited
number without entering a said response code.
36. The method of claim 33 further comprising steps of
certification of said TMD's by regulation authorities or a
certified laboratory.
37. The method of claim 33 further comprising steps of
certification of said and non-volatile data recording mediums by
regulation authorities or a certified laboratory after the
recording of data by said TMD.
38. The method of claim 33 for which said report of use comprises
information regarding the value of said populations of virtual
tickets distributed by said non-volatile data recording mediums
from last said report of use to the present said report of use,
therefore the profits generated by these said populations of
virtual tickets.
39. A method of distribution of ticket manufacturing devices
(TMD's) and non-volatile data recording mediums for their use in a
gaming environment, said method comprising steps of: manufacturer
selling said TMD's and said and non-volatile data recording mediums
to a distributor; said distributor selling said TMD's and said and
non-volatile data recording mediums to gaming facilities; said
gaming facility linking said TMD to a distributor monitoring
system; said distributor monitoring system unlocking from a remote
location said TMD; said gaming facility recording with a said TMD
up to a limited number of populations of virtual tickets
successively onto said and non-volatile data recording mediums;
said TMD transmitting to said distributor monitoring system a
report of use after recording said limited number of said and
non-volatile data recording mediums on the said TMD; said
distributor monitoring system transmitting a response code to said
TMD, otherwise said TMD being unable to operate properly; and
repeating the precedent steps until a predetermined total number of
said and non-volatile data recording mediums corresponding to the
life of the said TMD has been recorded.
40. The method of claim 39 further comprising step of distributor
monitoring system archiving information contained in said reports
of use.
41. The method of claim 39 for which said report of use comprises
information regarding the value of said populations of virtual
tickets distributed by said non-volatile data recording mediums
from last said report of use to the present said report of use,
therefore the profits generated by these said populations of
virtual tickets.
42. The method of claim 39 further comprising the step of
automatically locking a said TMD when a number of recordings
overshooting a predetermined number of recordings of said
non-volatile data recording mediums corresponds to a said limited
number is recorded without receiving information from said
distributor monitoring system.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a data storage device, the
apparatus to create and record this data on said storage device and
the method of using them in a gaming environment. This invention
relates more specifically to the creation and storage of virtual
tickets for future distribution to electronic gaming apparatus.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are many kinds of lottery video games in commercial
use. Managers choose to operate a particular kind of game in
regards to players'preferences, to the legislation in force and to
the game classification they want from the Indian Gaming Regulatory
Act (IGRA). One very popular video game is slot machines.
[0003] The principle of slot machines is simple and well known. For
decades, players all around the world have played these machines,
at first with mechanical reels and more recently video machines
with virtual reels. The outcomes of both these machines are mostly
determined on each play by a random number generator (RNG). The
random number generator independently determines each element of
the outcome, like each reel of a slot machine. The outcome is then
analyzed by the game program to determine whether it is winning or
losing and its corresponding payout. With these machines, game
operator revenues, in the short term, are hard to predict and
cannot be stabilized.
[0004] Managers of casinos and other gaming facilities want to be
able to predict and stabilize their revenues so they do not
experience periods of high revenue and periods of large losses.
Knowing the population of outcomes and the prize distribution
schedule would help them attain that goal. One way is to use a
method similar to the lottery tickets used in a pull tab system. In
this system, a predetermined number of tickets are printed and put
in a container. After paying a flat fee, the player takes a ticket
and then reveals its outcome. With a fixed-size population
presenting a fixed distribution of prizes and tickets all selling
for the same flat fee, the operators revenues are stable and
predictable.
[0005] This method can be adapted to video lottery terminals with
the outcomes being displayed on a screen rather than printed on
paper. A method used in the industry is to insert in the video
lottery terminals a roll of tickets with barcodes indicating to the
machine the outcome of the game. The tickets are cut and
distributed to the player who has to ask an employee for the
redemption value of the ticket. This method requires a high level
of maintenance since the operator has to make sure the machine
never runs out of ticket. Further more, unlike lottery tickets that
can be chosen by the players in a stack or on a counter, these
tickets are only given sequentially, removing any sense of control
to the player. Finally, the IGRA requires a display on the game
screen informing the player when a population begins or ends. Since
a whole population can comprise more than one roll, it is difficult
for the machine to display this information.
[0006] Crouch et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,951, explain another
method to create a population of outcomes in a video game. This
population comprises a fixed number of outcomes with a prize
distribution schedule. However, with this method, when the
population is completely used up, the game generates a new
population with a different prize distribution. The monetary value
of each population is the same, so the revenues are predictable.
However, since the distribution of prizes varies with time, the
revenues are not as stable as with lottery tickets. Once more, this
method does not give the players the opportunity to choose a
ticket, they are distributed sequentially. Further, the IGRA
requires that the prize distribution be displayed on the gaming
screen. Having more than one possible prize distribution makes the
display logistics more difficult. The display can also confuse
players and make them doubt the fairness of the game.
[0007] Other games have only one fixed prize distribution schedule,
but like the Crouch system, the population is created in the
machine, by the machine. This machine and the program installed in
it must provide their own security systems against fraud and
cheating, since there is a physical connection between the
apparatus used by the players and the population of outcomes.
[0008] Further, the information found in each outcome of the
population is only the result of the game, meaning whether the
player wins or not and the corresponding payout. This outcome is
sent to the game program that, using the RNG, determines a display
corresponding to that outcome. Since the games are created when the
player pushes the deal button and are not archived individually,
little information about each game and the player who played it is
available. To track games and player profiles the operators have to
buy and install a management system.
[0009] Furthermore, in these methods, the player can never choose
the ticket he wants. The outcomes are created in a random order and
the player has no influence or control on this order. To be able to
choose a specific outcome or ticket in a population, this
population has to be determined at the beginning, not an event at a
time.
[0010] Finally, the only information about the population available
to the operators is its present state, meaning the number of
winning outcomes for each level of pay already played and the
number of remaining outcomes. There is no way to know when a
population is totally empty and when a new population is created,
how many times the population has been emptied or if there has been
a system reset while a population was in use and what was the used
proportion of that population at that time. Not being able to know
exactly when a new population is finished and another begins does
not respect the IGRA requirements and its obligation of displaying
to the player these exact moments.
[0011] In conclusion, none of these methods meet all the
requirements of the IGRA. Meeting these requirements would mean for
a casino or gaming facility an IGRA Class II classification and
many monetary advantages, one of them, is paying much less tax.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] It is the object of this invention to provide a population
of outcomes in the form of virtual tickets presenting the same
characteristics as regular outcomes for a similar game using a
random selection process. For example, for an 8-line slot machine
comprising nine (9) symbols, the information on the virtual tickets
comprise the nine (9) symbols in the order they would appear on the
display and the amount won by the player, being $0.00 for a losing
tickets,
[0013] It is another object of this invention to provide an
apparatus to create this population of virtual tickets.
[0014] Further, the invention comprises a removable, transportable
and updateable medium to record a population of virtual tickets.
These tickets are to be used in another location by an apparatus
that is not part of this invention, and is the subject of the
assignee's co-pending related provisional application entitled
"data storage device and method of using it with wagering games"
which is hereby incorporated by reference.
[0015] It is another object of the invention to provide an
apparatus to record a population of virtual tickets on a removable
and updateable medium.
[0016] Further, the invention provides a secure method of managing
the use of the creating and recording apparatus.
[0017] Furthermore, the invention provides a system to collect and
archive information about the played tickets and the players who
played them, providing a player tracking system when coupled with a
player identification device, not part of this invention.
[0018] Another object of this invention is to provide a method that
can easily meet the requirements of the IGRA Class II games.
[0019] A final object of the invention is to provide a certifiable
and secure apparatus. Both the updateable medium and the creating
and recording device can be certified by laboratories or by
authorities against fraud or illegal virtual ticket manipulations.
The creating and recording device and the playing apparatus being
in different locations, no physical connection of any kind between
them is possible, thus, preventing unauthorized access to the
virtual tickets.
[0020] With this method, the monetary value of the whole population
is precise, verifiable and certifiable, while offering players a
fair game depending on a random process, with no outside influence
of the outcomes.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] These and other features, aspects and advantages of the
present invention will be better understood with regard to the
following description and accompanying drawings, wherein;
[0022] FIG. 1 is a representation of a paper lottery ticket;
[0023] FIG. 2 is a representation of a virtual ticket;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a representation of the cartridge;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a representation of the Ticket Manufacturing
Device (TMD);
[0026] FIG. 5 is a prize distribution schedule as used in our
preferred embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 6 is a block diagram explaining the creation of a
population of virtual tickets;
[0028] FIG. 7 is the report printed after the recording of a
population of virtual tickets:
[0029] FIG. 8 is the report printed after the use of a population
of virtual tickets;
[0030] FIG. 9 is a bloc diagram of the operation of a TMD by a
casino or gaming facility.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0031] The virtual tickets present the same characteristics as
paper lottery tickets, meaning a losing or winning combination and
the corresponding payout. FIG. 1a represents one side of a paper
lottery ticket 1 according to the prior art. On the ticket, the
name of the game 2, the prize distribution schedule 3 and a
validation number 4 are shown. FIG. 1b represents the other side 5
of the same ticket before it has been scratched while FIG. 1c
represents it after it has been scratched. The player must remove
the coating 6 to reveal the combinations 7 composed each of three
(3) symbols 8. By comparing the combinations 7 and the prize
distribution schedule 3, the player knows whether he has a winning
ticket and its redemption value. The ticket can be redeemed and the
value will be confirmed by the validation number 4.
[0032] FIG. 2 shows the preferred embodiment for the printed form
of a virtual ticket. The ticket presents a certain amount of
information needed by the players or the operators: the
identification of the machine in which the ticket has been played
or printed 9, the date and time of the play 10, the game's name 11,
the combination 12 composed of nine (9) symbols 13, in a set order
corresponding to the display of the nine (9) symbols of an 8-line
video slot machine, the cost for one ticket 14, the prize won by
the player 15 and a verification number 16. As can be seen by
comparing FIGS. 1 and 2 much of the virtual ticket is similar to
the paper lottery ticket described earlier. These virtual tickets
can be used directly to control the display without printing, they
can be printed with or without displaying an animated video game
play of the ticket. Redemption can be done directly in the video
gaming terminal or via a casino attendant.
[0033] FIGS. 3a and 3b show the preferred embodiment for the
updateable medium, a cartridge composed of a micro-controller
equipped with EEPROM memory, a physical memory support, more
precisely 4 Mb of re-programmable flash memory, a communications
port 17, diodes 19 and a low level program that controls the
writing in the flash memory and controls the communication port 17
and the diodes 19. It is preferred to use an ATMEL.TM. AT89S8252
microcontroller with internal EEPROM memory for more security,
since the low-level program cannot be accessed or modified without
accessing directly the microcontroller. In the same way, the flash
memory has been chosen for its security advantages Data in flash
memory cannot be written over, it must be erased beforehand.
Furthermore, the flash memory can be erased by block only and not
by item, like an outcome or a ticket. The low-level program also
prevents the early burning of the EEPROM memory by instructing the
event pointers to increment their addresses during the multiple
recordings of the cartridge.
[0034] The cartridge is also composed of a protective case 18 in
which the flash memory, the micro-controller and all the circuits
needed are concealed. The communication port 17 is at one end and
the diodes 19 are at the other, Since the information is recorded
in a flash memory, the cartridge does not need any independent
energy source, like a battery, prolonging its active life.
[0035] The communication, via the communication port 17, between
the cartridge and the recording apparatus, described later, or the
apparatus used to play the virtual tickets, not part of this
invention, is exclusive and secure. This security is assured by the
micro-controller, as explained later.
[0036] Diodes 19 are used to communicate the state of the cartridge
when it is connected to a network or gaming apparatus. The
operators know whether the cartridge is connected, in use, in error
or all used, helping them to manage the cartridges more easily.
[0037] FIG. 4 shows the Ticket Manufacturing Device (TMD),
apparatus used to create and record the population of tickets on
the cartridge. It is composed of a Power PC.TM., a micro-controller
using EEPROM internal memory that directs and secures
communications with the cartridge, a protective case 20, a screen
21, a port to receive an Ethernet cable 22, a keyhole to receive a
security key 23 and a communication port 24 to receive the
cartridge. A non-volatile memory in the device logs all events
regarding the TMD, like the number of recorded cartridges. The log
can be downloaded and archived in a PC via the Ethernet cable. Each
TMD micro-controller is unique and has a unique signature,
corresponding to its serial number. In the event of two
micro-controllers being switched, the information contained on the
micro-controller and the RAM backup would be different, freezing
both TMD's and rendering them unable to write or read a cartridge.
In the same way, a cartridge recorded with a specific TMD could not
be read by another TMD.
[0038] The communication between the TMD and the cartridge is
controlled by the micro-controllers in both devices, rendering it
exclusive and secure. The information is encrypted on the cartridge
in a way that can only be recognized by the device used to play the
game and the specific TMD, or group of TMD's when more than one has
the same generic signature in a same gaming facility. The signature
of the TMD is recognized by the cartridge because the
micro-controller has been pre-programmed by the manufacturer. The
security is also enforced by the use of a security key that must be
inserted in the keyhole 23 to activate the TMD.
[0039] When a cartridge is connected to the TMD via their
respective communication ports 17 and 24, the state of the
cartridge is determined. The cartridge can be blank or in error
mode, it can then be fed with virtual tickets and a population can
be recorded. If it has been previously used and a population is
already recorded and the tickets have been played, the population
must be downloaded to a computer using an Ethernet cable 22. The
information of the population is then archived for further use as a
players'profile or for law requirements. After the download, the
cartridge information is erased and a new population is created and
recorded.
[0040] To create a new population, the operator answers the
questions that appear on the TMD screen 20. He must select the
desired game, the population size (up to 165 000 tickets with a
flash memory of 4 Mb), the payout of the game and the ticket cost.
A serial number for that population is then created and a prize
distribution schedule is selected by the apparatus. FIG. 5 presents
a prize distribution schedule as used in this preferred embodiment.
This schedule presents a possible distribution of the different
prizes to attain the desired total payout 25 with the desired
population size 26. The different winning combinations of symbols
27 are also called tiers 28. The table also shows the total number
of each tiers 29 that can be found in the population and their
redemption value 30 (called odds). Combinations of tiers 31 can be
found in the table since more than one tier can be displayed at
once on a ticket. The numbers of these combinations 32 are then
subtracted from the total number of tiers 29 to obtain the real
number of single tiers 33. The apparatus then proceeds to create
the population as illustrated in FIG. 6. Two copies of the prize
distribution schedule 34 are copied, one in ROM memory 35, the
other in RAM memory 36. The ROM copy 35 will serve as an image to
know the total population and write the information about that
population on the cartridge, The RAM copy 36 serves to create the
population. A random number between 0 and the population size value
is generated by the RNG 37. Knowing the prize distribution schedule
36, the program finds the event corresponding to that number 38.
The ticket is generated by the program 39 and recorded on the
cartridge 40. The chosen outcome is removed from available outcomes
and the population size is decreased by one 41. If there are still
outcomes in the population 42, the RNG selects another number, if
not, the population of virtual tickets is completed and the final
report is printed 43. It is really important to never remove the
cartridge from the TMD before downloading and recording are
finished, because the cartridge would be set in error mode and
could not be used until a new population is recorded.
[0041] When the population has been successfully recorded, a report
is generated by the TMD 43. This report, shown in FIG. 7, informs
the operator about the cartridge and its contents. Specifically,
the serial number of the cartridge 44, its state at the moment of
the insertion in the TMD 45, population size 46, number of entries
played 47, the selected game 48, the game's payout 49, the ticket
cost 50, life expectancy of the cartridge 51 evaluated in number of
consecutive recording processes and the version of the program
controlling the cartridge 52. On the second line, all the odds in
dollars for each level of pay of the prize distribution schedule 53
are written. This list consists of the odds of the single tiers and
the odds of the combinations of tiers. On the third line are the
date and hour of the cartridge creation 54. The rest of the report
is the prize distribution schedule itself 55. The report can then
be archived to track the different cartridges.
[0042] For each ticket, there are two kinds of information. The
first one is encrypted and is read-only for any other apparatus
than the TMD that recorded it on the cartridge in the first place:
it is ticket records. It includes the combination of symbols for a
slot machine and the corresponding payout. Other information is
also written by the TMD on the cartridge regarding the whole
population and this information comprises the selections the
operator had to make to create the population: name of the game,
size of the population, payout, price of a ticket. To this
information, the machine adds the serial number of the population
and the prize distribution schedule. The second part is added by
the apparatus used to play the tickets, this information contains:
whether the ticket as been played, the machine in which the game
has been played, the date and hour of the play, whether or not the
prize has been claimed, and if a player identification system is in
place, like smart cards, the player identification.
[0043] When a cartridge has been used up or when the operator
decides to, the information contained on the cartridge must be
downloaded and archived so the cartridge can be erased and a new
population recorded. The information downloaded is presented as a
report shown in FIG. 8. The information given on the first two (2)
lines is the same as the first two (2) lines of the report created
after the recording of the population. The following lines
beginning with a number in the two hundreds (200's ) describe the
winning combinations of symbols 56 corresponding to the normal odds
part of the prize distribution schedule 53 described on the second
line of the report. The other lines represent each of the tickets
and its content. Each line indicates if the corresponding ticket
has been claimed (1 if claimed) 57, the nine symbols of the
combination 58, corresponding prize 59 in the prize distribution
schedule 53, prize won by the player 60 (0 if the ticket has not
been played), the machine on which the ticket was played 61 (0 if
the ticket has not been played), player's identification number 62
(0 if the ticket has not been played), date and hour 63 the ticket
has been played ( Jan. 1, 1980 and 00:00:00 if the ticket has not
been played).
[0044] The information collected by the cartridge can be analyzed,
even without a player tracking device (smart cards, PIN number).
The operators, their distributor and the manufacturer can determine
the popularity of a particular game and make better decision about
present and future games. The operator can also make a profile of
the popularity of a game regarding the hour or day of the week. If
a player tracking device is in use, the operators can also learn a
lot about their, clients and their preferences. Combined with
outside information, like the layout of the casino, the cartridge
information can be used to analyze the popularity of different
locations in the casino or gaming facility.
[0045] The TMD can be operated by different people or
organizations. It can be operated by the manufacturer, the
distributor, the casino managers or gaming facilities and finally,
by a gaming board or any other agencies and laboratories. The
preferred mode of operation for this invention is to let the casino
managers or gaming facilities operate the TMD, but with certain
restrictions.
[0046] The manufacturer builds and programs both the cartridge and
the TMD. The cartridge program only includes the low level program,
but the TMD program includes all the different prize distribution
schedules for all the different games.
[0047] The cartridges and the TMD's are then sold to the
distributor who will then sell them to casinos and other gaming
facilities, like bingo halls.
[0048] FIG. 9 explains the way the TMD's are operated by the
casinos and the distributor. After recording twenty-five (25)
cartridges 64, the operator must print a report 65 of all the
cartridges and send it to the distributor 70. If the report is not
printed, no more cartridges can be recorded on that TMD. After the
report has been printed and sent, the operator can record up to
twenty-five (25) more cartridges on the TMD 66. When the
distributor receives the report, he sends a report code included in
the report to the manufacturer 71 who enters a code number found on
the report in an exclusive program 72 that can only be used by the
manufacturer, This program gives a new code number 73 in return for
the one that has been entered. This new code number is communicated
to the casino manager operating the TMD via the distributor 74.
When the code is entered in the TMD 67, the casinos have the
freedom to record twenty-five (25) more cartridges 66 from number
of recording of the last report, after which a new report will have
to be printed 69, and so on until one thousand (1000) cartridges
have been recorded. When this number has been reached, the casino
must buy a new TMD. If no code has been entered before twenty-five
new cartridges has been recorded, the TMD freezes and must be
returned to the manufacturer 68.
[0049] This method has the advantage of giving a certain control to
the distributor as to the number of cartridges in distribution. It
also gives him the exact amount won by the casinos using his
cartridges, giving him a direct and easy way to calculate the
amounts the casinos owe him. He can also track the different games
so he and the manufacturer can make better decisions about present
and future games.
[0050] The description of the preferred embodiment of the present
invention above has been presented for illustration purposes and do
not intent to limit the invention. It will be understood that it is
capable of further modifications and the application is intended to
cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention
following, in general, the principles of the invention and
including such departures from the present disclosure as come
within known or customary practice within the art to which the
invention pertains and as may be applied to the essential features
before set, and follows in the scope of the appended claims,
* * * * *