U.S. patent number 3,697,698 [Application Number 04/165,843] was granted by the patent office on 1972-10-10 for pari-mutuel off-track betting system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to SAID Oswald, by said Bull. Invention is credited to James R. Bull, Robert A. Oswald.
United States Patent |
3,697,698 |
Oswald , et al. |
October 10, 1972 |
PARI-MUTUEL OFF-TRACK BETTING SYSTEM
Abstract
An off-track betting system in which a plurality of ticket
issuing machines at off-track locations permit selection and entry
of input data comprising a proposed bet transaction and provide
parallel output signals corresponding to the input data. The
parallel output signals are encoded and sequentially gated in
groups corresponding to respective ticket issuing machines. Each
group of parallel output signals is thereafter multiplexed to
provide a serial signal for transmission over a telephone line or
radio link to a central pari-mutuel totalizer or computer at
another location where multiplex decoders and logic gates process
the signal for input to the totalizer or computer. Upon acceptance
of a bet transaction by the totalizer, a return signal actuates the
ticket issue machine to issue an appropriate ticket.
Inventors: |
Oswald; Robert A.
(Gardnerville, NV), Bull; James R. (Sparks, NV) |
Assignee: |
SAID Oswald, by said Bull
(N/A)
|
Family
ID: |
26861748 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/165,843 |
Filed: |
August 25, 1971 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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829964 |
Jun 3, 1969 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
370/242;
370/537 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07F
17/3288 (20130101); G06Q 50/34 (20130101); H04L
5/22 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H04L
5/00 (20060101); H04L 5/22 (20060101); G06Q
50/00 (20060101); H04j 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;179/15A,15AT,15SI,2DP
;178/17.5,66 ;340/172.5,147,310,323,351,152,154 ;235/61.9 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Blakeslee; Ralph D.
Parent Case Text
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 829,964 filed June
3, 1969.
Claims
We claim:
1. An automated off-track betting system for use with a central
computer comprising:
A. a plurality of ticket issue machines at off-track locations,
each machine adapted to permit selection and entry of input data
comprising a proposed bet transaction and provide parallel output
signals corresponding to the input data each machine further
adapted to provide a transaction sense signal upon entry of a
complete bet transaction and to respond to appropriate acknowledge
signals for issuing tickets;
B. means for digitally encoding the output signals from the ticket
issued machines;
C. first gating means for sequentially gating the output signals
from said ticket issue machines in groups corresponding to bet
transactions at the ticket issue machines including means for
sequentially scanning the outputs from said ticket issue machines,
means for sensing the presence of a transaction sense signal at
each machine, means for halting said scanning means at a ticket
issue machine upon sensing the presence of a transaction sense
signal indicating entry of a complete bet transaction, means for
passing the output signals corresponding to the bet transaction
through the gating means for processing, and means for restarting
said scanning means through the sequential scanning of the outputs
of the ticket issue machines comprising:
1. a ring counter comprising a plurality of flip-flop stages in
number corresponding to the number of ticket issue machines;
2. clock means for generating clock pulses for stepping said ring
counter;
3. a plurality of "and" gates in number equal to the number of
ticket issue machines, each "and" gate having a first input from
the output of a different one of the stages of the ring counter and
a second input coupled with the transaction sense signal from a
different one of said ticket issue machines whereby an enable
signal appears at the output of one of said "and" gates upon the
coincidence of a ring counter output signal and a transaction sense
signal at the input of said "and" gate for gating the output
signals corresponding to a completed bet transaction at the
corresponding ticket issue machine;
4. and means for gating the clock pulses to halt the ring counter
whenever an output appears at one of the plurality of "and" gates
whereby the sequential scanning of the outputs of the ticket issue
machines is halted until completion of processing of the bet
transaction at the corresponding ticket issue machine;
D. means for multiplexing said gated output signals from the ticket
issue machines to provide a serial signal for transmission to the
central computer;
E. means for transmitting said serial signal;
F. multiplex decoder means at the central computer location for
decoding said transmitted serially multiplexed signal into a
plurality of parallel output signals;
G. second gating means for sequentially gating said parallel output
signals in groups corresponding to the off-track ticket issue
machines for input to the central computer for processing and
acknowledgment;
H. means for generating an acknowledge signal at the central
computer;
I. means for transmitting the acknowledge signal to the off-track
location at which the bet transaction originated;
J. means for receiving an acknowledge signal at the off-track
location transmitted from the central computer and for gating said
signal to provide a ticket issue signal to the corresponding ticket
issue machine from which the bet transaction originated;
K. and means for locking the transaction sense signal from a
particular ticket issue machine until the bet transaction data has
been processed and acknowledged by the central computer and a
ticket has been issued by the machine and means for terminating the
transaction sense signal from a particular ticket issue machine
upon issuance of the ticket whereby the first gating means is
restarted to continue sequential scanning of the outputs of the
ticket issue machines.
2. An automated off-track betting system as set forth in claim 1
wherein is provided means for sensing a malfunction of a ticket
issue machine in failing to issue a ticket upon receipt of an
acknowledge signal and for enabling said first gating means to
restart sequential scanning of the outputs of the ticket issue
machines comprising:
a first "and" gate having as a first input the acknowledge signal
received from the central computer to initiate issuance of a ticket
from a ticket issue machine and having as a second input the
transaction sense signal of the ticket issue machine;
a time delay element in the output line from said "and" gate having
a time delay longer by a specified amount than the normal time
required for the ticket issue machine to issue a ticket in response
to the acknowledge signal and shut off the transaction sense
signal;
a failure alarm coupled to the output from the said time delay;
a latch circuit coupled to the output from said time delay set by a
signal propagating from the time delay;
and a second gate for gating the transaction sense signal from the
ticket issue machine with the output from said latch circuit to
block the transaction sense signal when the latch circuit is set so
that the malfunctioning ticket issue machine is by-passed by the
sequential scanning means.
3. An automated off-track betting system for use with a central
computer comprising:
A. a plurality of ticket issue machines at off track locations,
each machine adapted to permit selection and entry of input data
comprising a proposed bet transaction and provide parallel output
signals corresponding to the input data each machine further
adapted to provide a transaction sense signal upon entry of a
complete bet transaction and to respond to appropriate acknowledge
signals for issuing tickets;
B. means for digitally encoding the output signals from the ticket
issued machines;
C. first gating means for sequentially gating the output signals
from said ticket issue machines in groups corresponding to bet
transactions at the ticket issue machines including means for
sequentially scanning the outputs from said ticket issue machines,
means for sensing the presence of a transaction sense signal at
each machine, means for halting said scanning means at a ticket
issue machine upon sensing the presence of a transaction sense
signal indicating entry of a complete bet transaction, means for
passing the output signals corresponding to the bet transaction
through the gating means for processing, and means for restarting
said scanning means through the sequential scanning of the outputs
of the ticket issue machines comprising:
1. a ring counter comprising a plurality of flip-flop stages in
number corresponding to the number of ticket issue machines;
2. clock means for generating clock pulses for stepping said ring
counter;
3. a plurality of "and" gates in number equal to the number of
ticket issue machines, and "and" gate having a first input from the
output of a different one of the stages of the ring counter and a
second input coupled with the transaction sense signal from a
different one of said ticket issue machines whereby an enable
signal appears at the output of one of said "and" gates upon the
coincidence of a ring counter output signal and a transaction sense
signal at the input of said "and" gate for gating the output
signals corresponding to a completed bet transaction at the
corresponding ticket issue machine;
4. and means for gating the clock pulses to halt the ring counter
whenever an output appears at one of the plurality of "and" gates
whereby the sequential scanning of the outputs of the ticket issue
machines is halted until completion of processing of the bet
transaction at the corresponding ticket issue machine;
D. and, means for multiplexing said gated output signals from the
ticket issue machines to provide a serial signal for transmission
to the central computer.
Description
This invention relates to a new pari-mutuel off-track betting
system which permits betting from off-track locations at track odds
up to the time of the race.
In pari-mutuel betting, all betting on a particular race is
compiled in a total pool and the winners share in the total stakes
less a percentage for the management. Pari-mutuel betting from
off-track sites is presently orally reported to the track location
by telephone and must be terminated approximately a half hour
before the race because of the time delay in processing data
received from the off-track location.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new
pari-mutuel off-track betting system which permits off-track
betting according to track odds up to the time of the race.
Another object of the invention is to provide an off-track betting
system in which data corresponding to a bet transaction received
from ticket issue machines at off-track locations is automatically
transmitted to the central parimutuel totalizer or computer for
processing, and in which the ticket issue machines at off-track
locations automatically issue appropriate tickets in response to
signals transmitted from the central pari-mutuel totalizer or
computer.
A further object of the invention is to provide a data processing
system for pari-mutuel off-track betting which permits automatic
transmission of off-track bet transaction data by means of a
telephone line or a radio link to the central pari-mutual totalizer
or computer.
In order to accomplish these results, the present invention
contemplates providing at off-track locations a plurality of ticket
issuing machines, each adapted to permit selection and entry of
input data comprising a proposed bet transaction and to provide
parallel output signals corresponding to the input data. Each
machine is also responsive to appropriate signals for issuing
tickets. An encoder digitally encodes the parallel output signals
which are sequentially gated by logic circuitry in groups of
parallel output signals corresponding to the respective ticket
issuing machines.
According to another aspect of the invention, a multiplex coder is
provided to multiplex as by, for example, time division
multiplexing, the gated parallel output signals from the machines
to provide a serial signal for transmission by a telephone line or
radio link to a central totalizer or computer which compiles data
from both the off-track and on-track betting locations. At the
central computer or totalizer, the serial multiplex signal is
decoded and gated to provide sequential groups of parallel output
signals corresponding to the respective ticket issue machines at
the off-track betting sites. Further decoding and logic circuitry
prepares the data for processing by the central computer or
totalizer.
After the data from a proposed bet transaction at an off-track
betting site has been processed by the central totalizer and
accepted, a return signal is transmitted over the telephone line or
radio link to the off-track betting site where it is processed and
gated to actuate the appropriate ticket issue machine for issuing a
ticket.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent in the following specification and
accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the off-track installation of a system
of parimutuel off-track betting according to the present
invention.
FIGS. 2a and 2b are diagrams of logic circuits for two types of
coders for output signas from the ticket issue machines.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of group enable logic circuitry for
sequentially gating the groups of parallel output signals from
respective ticket issue machines.
FIG. 4 is a time flow chart representing in time signals at the
various inputs and outputs of the group enable logic circuitry
shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the decoder and gating circuitry
installed at the track or at the location of the central
totalizer.
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of portions of the installation at the
on-track site or at the site of the central totalizer showing
circuitry for handling a return signal for transmission to the
off-track betting site for actuating the appropriate ticket issue
machine.
FIG. 7 is a diagram of the logic gating circuit at the off-track
site for gating a return signal to the appropriate ticket issue
machine.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing logic circuitry for dropping a ticket
issue machine which is inoperative due to a malfunction of the
machine.
In the off-track installation diagrammatically illustrated in FIG.
1, ticket issue machines 11, 12 and 13 are provided at off-track
betting sites. The system is readily adaptable to any number of
machines, but three are shown here by way of example. Each ticket
issue machine is provided with a control panel for selecting and
entering the data required for a proposed bet transaction as in
conventional ticket issue machines. Each machine is modified,
however, to supply a sense voltage indicating entry of a complete
betting transaction into the machine. The machine is also modified
to accept an external voltage level to actuate the machine and
initiate issuance of a ticket under appropriate circumstances
hereinafter described.
Upon entry of a complete bet transaction, parallel signals are
provided along three sets of lines from the ticket issue machine.
One set of lines 15 consists of 5 wires with 5 contacts at the
machine corresponding to the type of bet selected. Thus, the
operator may select from the daily double, forecast, win, place, or
show events. Depending upon which type of bet is selected a signal
appears at one of the 5 lines in the group 15. The set of lines 16
consists of 14 wires corresponding to the standard number of horses
in the racing field. If the daily double has been selected, the
signal on one of the lines 16 indicates the horse selected in the
first race of the daily double. If forecast has been selected, a
signal one of the lines 16 indicates the horse selected to finish
first. For win, place, and show, the signal on one of the lines 16
indicates a bet on the winning horse, place horse, and show horse,
respectively. A second group of lines 17 also includes 14 lines
corresponding to the standard number of horses in the field. The
set of lines 17 is required for the daily double and forecast
events. Betting in the daily double involves betting on a horse in
each of two separate races while betting in the forecast event
involves betting on two horses in the same race. Thus, if the daily
double is selected, a signal along one of the lines 17 indicates
the horse selected in the second race, while, if the forecast event
is selected, a signal on one of the lines 17 indicates the horse
selected to finish second in the same race.
The parallel outputs from each ticket issue machine on completion
of entry of a bet transaction pass through encoders 18 or 20. The
type A encoders 18 accept the voltage level from one of the 14
inputs of either of the groups of lines 16 or 17 and converts the
format from a 14-line input code to a four-line output code, such
as, for example, a 8-4-2-1 binary coded decimal output. The type B
encoder 20 accepts a voltage level or signal from one of the five
lines from the group of lines 15 and converts the format from a
five-line input code to a three-line output code. This code is
similar to the four-line binary coded decimal output format for the
encoders 18 except that one line is eliminated because there is no
need for the additional bit of information.
The type B coder 20 is illustrated in FIG. 2b. As shown in that
diagram, a signal appears along one of the five lines of the group
of lines 15 corresponding to the type of bet selected, namely,
daily double, forecast, win, place, or show. This signal is encoded
by a group of or-gates 21 which lead to and-gates 22 which pass the
encoded signal only when it is coincident with an enable signal 23
as hereinafter described.
Returning to FIG. 1, as completed transactions are entered at a
plurality of ticket issue machines, the encoded outputs from coders
18 and 20 are sequentially gated in groups corresponding to the
respective ticket issue machines by the group enable-logic 25. The
group enable-logic 25 consists of a ring counter as hereinafter
described with a series of stages in number corresponding to the
number of ticket issue machines. The sequential signals 23
generated by the group enable-logic 25 sequentially gate the
outputs from the coders 18 and 20 in groups corresponding to the
respective machine in the manner shown in FIG. 2b. Thus, the
encoded signals are "anded" with the group-enable signal 23 so that
the encoded signals pass only when coincident with the
enable-signal 23. The parallel encoded signals from a ticket issue
machine thereafter pass to the input of a time division multiplex
coder 30 which time division multiplexes the parallel input into a
serial output for modulating a frequency shift key tone transmitter
31. The modulated tone passes through a telephone line or radio
link interface 32 for transmission along a telephone line or radio
link to the central pari-mutuel totalizer or computer, not shown.
Upon processing and acceptance of an off-track bet transaction, an
acknowledge signal generated by the computer and transmitted back
along the telephone line or radio link is gated by the ticket issue
command logic 35 to actuate the appropriate ticket issue machine
for issuance of a ticket corresponding to the accepted bet
transaction as hereinafter described.
The group enable-logic 25 is set forth in the logic diagram of FIG.
3. The circuit consists of a ring counter using three stages formed
by three flip-flops 45, corresponding to the number of ticket issue
machines. The number of stages can be expanded corresponding to
whatever number of ticket issue machines is used. The ring counter
is stepped by clock pulses received from line 40 and gated through
the and-gate 41 which is in turn controlled by or-gate 42 and the
inverter 43. The or-gate 42 has three inputs and is normally in a
state of logical zero with no signal at the output providing a
logic 1 to the and-gate 41 by means of the inverter 43. The clock
pulses on line 40 therefore pass through and-gate 41 sequentially
stepping the flip-flops 45. When a complete bet transaction has
been entered into one of the three ticket issue machines at the
off-track location, a logical 1 signal level appears at one of the
and-gates 44 along one of the lines 62, 63, or 64 from that
machine. In the meantime, the ring counter, including flip-flops 45
and and-gates 46, is normally stepping through its three positions.
In the process of stepping through the three positions the ring
counter provides an output at one of the gates 44 coincident with
the signal derived from the ticket issue machine in which a
completed bet transaction has been entered. At the time of
coincidence, the and-gate 44 corresponding to that machine will
shift to a logic 1 signal level. This signal is conducted along one
of the lines 23 corresponding to the appropriate ticket issue
machine thereby providing an enabling signal along one of the lines
23 to pass data through the appropriate coders 18 and 20. At the
same time a logic 1 signal appears at the output of or-gate 42
which through the inverter 43 produces a zero level signal at the
and-gate 41 which gates the clock pulse 40. In the absence of a
clock pulse, the ring counter freezes in that position until the
bet transaction with the selected issue machine is completed.
The operation of the group enable-logic circuit 25 can be more
readily understood by reference to the time flow charts of FIG. 4.
Line 50 represents the clock pulse at the input of and-gate 41,
while line 51 represents the output from and-gate 41. Lines 52, 53
and 54 represent the signals at outputs 55, 56 and 57 of flip-flops
45 of the ring counter. Lines 58, 60 and 61 represent signals at
the sense lines 62, 63 and 64 from the ticket issue machines along
which the signal is transmitted indicating entry of a complete bet
transaction. Through time periods T-1 through T-4, the ring counter
is normally stepping through its three positions. At the end of
time period T-4, however, as the ring counter steps to the second
position providing a signal 53 along line 56, a logic 1 level 60
has appeared on line 63 coincident with the logic 1 level on line
56 at an and-gate 44. At the beginning of time period T-5,
therefore, the output from and-gate 41 remains at the zero level
placing the ring counter in the second position until the bet
transaction at the second machine has been completed. In the
meantime, during the time period T-6 a logic 1 level signal 58
appears on line 62 indicating the entry of a bet transaction in the
first ticket issue machine. When the signal 60 on line 63 falls to
zero indication completion of the first transaction, a signal out
of the and-gate 41 steps the ring counter to the third position
coincident with which a recently appearing signal 61 on the third
line 64 from a bet transaction entered in the third machine
initiates the same procedure for completion of the transaction
entered in the third machine. The transaction entered in the first
machine therefore awaits its turn until the ring counter has
returned to the first position. Thus, when a complete proposed bet
transaction has been entered into one of the ticket issue machines,
the machine generates a transaction sense signal which is sensed at
the group enable-logic 25 to lock the ring counter of the group
enable-logic at the position of the ticket issue machine in which
the complete transaction has been entered when the ring counter
reaches that position in its normal sequence. The machine is wired
so that only certain combinations of buttons corresponding to
permitted bets produce a sense signal output to the group
enable-logic. The transaction sense signal locks the group
enable-logic in that position until the input data has been
processed by the central computer and a ticket issued by the
machine. Once a ticket has been issued, the machine resets itself,
extinguishing the transaction sense signal thereby permitting the
group enable-logic to step in sequence to the next machine.
As the group enable-logic sequentially passes groups of parallel
signals from respective ticket issue machines the parallel signals
are time division multiplexed into a serial signal for transmission
along a telephone line or radio link to the central pari-mutuel
totalizer. Transmission can be accomplished by means of, for
example, a frequency shift key tone transmitter 31 via an interface
32 to either a telephone line or radio link.
At the track location or other site at which the central totalizer
is located, the transmitted serially multiplexed signal is received
and routed to time division multiplex decoders 70, 71, or 72, in
number equal to the number of ticket issue machines at off-track
locations. From the serial multiplexed signals, the time division
multiplex decoders provide parallel output signals in groups
corresponding to the ticket issue machines from which they were
generated. The parallel groups of output signals are gated by logic
group gates 73 and group enable-logic 75 so that only parallel
outputs from a ticket issue machine with respect to which a bet
transaction is being processed are passed. The sequential gating of
the parallel groups of output signals is accomplished by the group
enable-logic 75 similar to the circuit described in FIG. 3. By
means of the group gating circuit 73, parallel outputs from the
time division multiplex decoders 70 corresponding to signals
generated by a ticket issue machine are anded with the sequential
signals from the group enable-logic 75. During processing of input
data from a ticket issue machine, the group enable-logic 75, in the
same manner as the group enable-logic 25 of FIG. 21 senses the
presence of transaction signals and temporarily stops, holding open
the appropriate gates until the particular bet transaction is
completed. Thereafter the ring counter in the group enable-logic 75
steps along to the next set of gates in the manner heretofore
described.
The parallel outputs from group gating circuits 73 pass along lines
76 to binary coded decimal decoders and further logic circuitry to
the central pari-mutuel totalizer or computer. Such totalizers or
computers are well known in the art, such as, for example, the
totalizer sold by Automatic Totalizers, Ltd., Nancarrow Avenue,
Meadowbank, N.S.W., Australia, under the trademark "PREMIER," and
are generally referred to as a "Tote." That abbreviation is used in
FIGS. 6 and 6a. After the data corresponding to a bet transaction
has been processed by the totalizer, an acknowledge signal is
generated for return to the appropriate ticket issue machine at the
off-track site.
In order to provide an error check for the data processed by the
off-track betting system described herein, parity check bits can be
generated and interleaved in the signal transmitted from the
off-track installation. At the on-track site, the decoders can be
provided with parity check circuitry for analyzing the parity bits
associated with the transmitted data for comparison and for
generating an error signal in the event an error has been detected.
In the event an error is detected, an error signal is provided at
the ticket issue machine at which the transaction originated.
FIGS. 6 and 6a are block diagram setting forth the circuitry for
processing an acknowledge signal at the track location or the site
where the totalizer or computer is located. The totalizer is
provided with logic circuitry for generating an acknowledge signal
upon completion of processing of the data corresponding to a bet
transaction. A tote acknowledge signal appearing on line 80 is
processed by on-track ticket issue signalling circuitry 81
connected in conjunction with the time division multiplex decoders,
two of which are shown in FIG. 6. The on-track ticket issue
signalling circuits 81 generate a tone for transmission along the
telephone line of a radio link to the off-track sites at which the
bet transaction originated, thereby providing a ticket issue
command signal. Referring to FIG. 6a, the on-track ticket issue
signalling circuits 81 include an initial and-gate 82 having three
inputs. One input is for the tote acknowledge signal received along
line 80 from the tote acknowledge logic associated with the
totalizer or computer. A second input is derived from the group
enable-logic 75 to sequentially gate the return signal. As
heretofore described, the group enable-logic 75 opens the
appropriate gate during the time required for completion of the
particular bet transaction being processed and thereafter steps to
the next gate. A third input to and-gate 82 is derived from the
time division multiplex decoder 70, 71, etc. with which it is
associated. The third input consists of the output of and-gate 83
whose two inputs are derived from the decoder and from the output
of and-gate 82 which is inverted by means of inverter 84. Thus, the
third input to and-gate 82 is at a logic value 1 only when a bet
transaction is being processed through the decoder with which it is
associated and when a tone has not yet been generated by the
on-track ticket issue signalling circuitry itself. As soon as an
output appears at and-gate 82, a gated tone signal generator 85 is
actuated to generate a tone signal for transmission to the
off-track site. At the same time, the output signal 82 passes
through an inverter 84 shutting off and-gate 83 which, in turn,
shuts off and-gate 82 so that the group enable-logic 75 releases
and steps on to the next signalling decoder. The pulse tone signal
which is generated by generator 85 thereafter passes through line
86 for transmission to the off-track site by either a telephone
line or a radio link. The and-gates 83 as heretofore described
facilitate handling of additional stations.
Upon transmission back to the off-track betting site, the ticket
issue signal actuates the ticket issue command logic 35 shown in
detail in FIG. 7. The tone sense receiver 90 senses the transmitted
tone and generates a signal which passes through gate 91 to one of
a series of and-gates 92 in number equal to the number of ticket
issue machines at the off-track location. The ticket issue signal
generated by the tone senser 90 is directed to each of the
and-gates 92 where it is anded with an enable signal from the group
enable-logic 25. Thus, the ticket issue signal is only passed
through the and-gate 92 at which an enabling signal is coincident.
As heretofore described, the group enable-logic 25 provides
enabling signals sequentially along a series of lines in number
equal to the number of ticket issue machines at off-track
locations. When a complete bet transaction has been entered into a
ticket machine, the output from the machine is anded with one of
the lines from the group enable-logic so that the output from a
plurality of ticket issue machines is sequentially gated by the
group enable-logic. Once the output from a ticket issue machine is
coincident with a signal from the group enable-logic, the group
enable-logic senses the presence of a transaction and freezes at
that position permitting the output signals from the ticket issue
machine to be transmitted to the on-track site or other location of
the central computer, processed, and acknowledged by a ticket issue
signal. The returning ticket issue signal is, in turn, gated by the
same group enable-logic so that it is routed to the appropriate
ticket issue machine with respect to which the bet transaction is
being processed. The returning ticket issue signal passing through
one of the gates 92 coincident with a signal from the group
enable-logic therefore actuates the appropriate ticket issue
machine for issuance of a ticket. The issuance of the ticket is
sensed by the group enable-logic as heretofore described which
thereafter steps through its normal round robin sequence to the
various ticket issue machines at the off-track location until
another transaction is sensed.
As shown in FIG. 1, signals from the group enable-logic 25 are also
utilized to gate or actuate the time division multiplex coder 30
via or-gate 24. Thus, whenever an enabling signal is generated by
the group enable-logic 25 a signal appears at the output of or-gate
24 thereby providing a signal at the time division multiplex coder
coincident with signals from the ticket issue machines thereby
actuating coding of the signals for transmission.
In the event that a ticket issue machine becomes inoperative due to
an electrical or mechanical malfunction, circuitry is provided for
dropping the ticket issue machine from the scanning sequence of the
group enable-logic 25. As shown in FIG. 8, a ticket issue signal
command returning to the ticket issue machine 11 along the line 101
is directed not only to the ticket machine 11 but also to and-gate
102. The second input to and-gate 102 is a sensed signal from
ticket issue machine 11 indicating that a transaction has been
entered for processing. Thus, the output from and-gate 102 is a
logic level 1 upon the presence of a ticket issue signal and a
transaction signal from the ticket issue machine 11. The output of
and-gate 102 passes through a time delay element 103 which may be,
for example, a 50 ms time delay. If the ticket issue machine has
not issued a ticket and reset at the end of the time delay period
the continued logic level 1 signal at the output of and-gate 102
propagates and initiates a failure alarm 104 and, in addition,
latches a set-reset latch circuit 105 which applies a logic zero to
the and-gate 106. The transaction sense signal from ticket issue
machine 11 along line 107 is therefore blocked by and-gate 106
thereby releasing the group enable-logic permitting it to shift to
the next machine. As long as the ticket issue machine is
inoperative the absence of a transaction signal at the output of
gate 106 permits the group enable-logic to by-pass ticket issue
machine 11 as it steps sequentially from machine to machine. When
the malfunction of the ticket issue machine is corrected, latch
circuit 105 and the failure alarm 104 can be manually reset. Alarm
104 can be either a visual or an aural alarm, or both.
The time delay period selected for time delay element 103 is
approximately four times the machine operating time in order to
accommodate short self-correcting delays in the operation of the
machine.
* * * * *