(19) United States
`(12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2010/0227671 A1
`(43) Pub. Date:
`Sep. 9, 2010
`Laaroussi et al.
`
`US 2010O227671A1
`
`(54) APPARATUS FOR GATHERING,
`TRANSFERRING, AND AUDITING PAYMENT
`INFORMATION
`
`(76) Inventors:
`
`Mohamed Laaroussi, Orford (CA);
`Hugues Boisvert, Sherbrooke
`(CA); Eric Levesque, Sherbrooke
`(CA)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`Axes.Network Inc.
`Attn.: Intellectual Property Department
`410 Pepin Street
`Sherbrooke, QC J1 L 2Y8 (CA)
`
`(21) Appl. No.:
`
`12/475,025
`
`(22) Filed:
`
`May 29, 2009
`
`(30)
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`Mar. 5, 2009 (CA) ...................................... 2658676
`
`Publication Classification
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`A63F 9/24
`(2006.01)
`G06F 12/00
`(2006.01)
`G06F I3/38
`(2006.01)
`G06O 40/00
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............... 463/25: 711/115; 710/72; 705/30;
`711 FE12.OO1
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`A currency media reader hub on a gaming machine to monitor
`transactions is provided. The currency media reader hub com
`prises a communication board module comprising a commu
`nication port module adapted to connect the currency media
`reader hub with a peripheral component, a network port mod
`ule adapted to connect the currency media reader hub to a
`network, a currency media reader module connected to the
`communication board module, the currency media reader
`module being adapted to communicate with a virtual cur
`rency holding media and transfer data between the commu
`nication board module and the virtual currency holding
`media, a user interface module connected to the communica
`tion board and adapted to display a currency value stored on
`the virtual currency holding media and an intelligent board
`module connected to the communication board to provide
`communication capability with the network.
`
`
`
`164.1
`
`164.2
`
`18O
`
`202,
`204
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`Sep. 9, 2010 Sheet 1 of 8
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`US 2010/0227671 A1
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`Sep. 9, 2010 Sheet 2 of 8
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`US 2010/0227671 A1
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`Sep. 9, 2010 Sheet 3 of 8
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`US 2010/0227671 A1
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`3
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`Sep. 9, 2010 Sheet 4 of 8
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`US 2010/0227671 A1
`
`Communication
`board module
`
`210
`
`Communication
`port module
`Network port
`module
`
`Intelligent board
`module
`
`IP MAC address
`module
`
`Memory module
`
`Clock module
`Input/output
`port module
`Media reader
`module
`
`User interface
`module
`
`
`
`Removable
`memory module
`Currency media
`reader hub
`identification
`module
`Internet protocol
`configuration
`module
`Peripheral
`component
`configuration
`module
`
`
`
`User
`preferences
`module
`
`216
`218
`
`22O
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`222
`
`224
`
`226
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`228
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`23O
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`232
`
`234
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`236
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`238
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`Fig. 4
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`Patent Application Publication
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`Sep. 9, 2010 Sheet 6 of 8
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`US 2010/0227671 A1
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`Point of sale terminal (POS)
`POWer On
`
`300
`
`
`
`Add Value
`
`
`
`Player Selects
`Payment Option
`
`302
`
`Buy Product
`
`Remove Value
`
`308
`
`Player Selects
`Amour. Add to
`
`Card Reader
`displays
`Product list
`
`31 O
`
`Player selects
`product to buy
`
`
`
`Player Enters
`Amount to
`Remove from
`Card
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
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`POS calculates
`and Writes the
`new value to the
`Card
`
`Save Transaction
`Details
`
`Card Reader
`prints Receipt
`
`318
`
`Network
`Available?
`
`Fig. 6
`
`
`
`
`
`Send
`Transaction to
`database
`
`320
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`Currency media reader hub
`POWer. On
`
`330
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
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`
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`Incoming
`Currency?
`
`332
`
`Y
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`336
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`Currency
`Transfer
`Requested?
`
`N
`
`
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`
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`
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`Write value to
`Card Or Store value
`in eSCrOW
`
`334
`
`Remove value
`from Card
`
`338
`
`Send value to
`machine and Save
`transaction
`
`340
`
`Fig. 7
`
`342
`
`Y
`
`NetWork
`available?
`
`Send Data of
`Transaction to
`database
`
`344
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`Player Selects
`Option to do
`Live Operations
`
`POS Request
`Operation List
`from Server
`
`Server Sends
`List of available
`operations with
`requested
`parameters
`
`POS Displays
`Received
`Operations
`
`
`
`
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`
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`Player Selects
`
`370
`
`Operation
`
`Parameter
`Selection
`
`372
`
`User inputs
`parameter (Card
`Number, Date,
`Amount, etc)
`
`
`
`POS Sends
`Parameters and
`Operation
`Request to
`Server
`
`Server
`PrOCeSSes
`Operation and
`Sends result
`back to POS
`
`374
`
`376
`
`378
`
`Fig. 8
`
`38O
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`POS Writes
`Result to Card
`
`POS Prints out
`Results
`
`
`
`POS
`Displays
`Result
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`US 2010/0227671 A1
`
`Sep. 9, 2010
`
`APPARATUS FOR GATHERING,
`TRANSFERRING, AND AUDITING PAYMENT
`INFORMATION
`
`CROSS-REFERENCE
`0001. The present United States patent application relates
`to and claims priority from Canadian Patent Application No.
`2,658,676, filed on Mar. 5, 2009, entitled NOVEL METHOD
`OF GATHERING, TRANSFERRING, AND AUDITING
`PAYMENT INFORMATION, which is enclosed herein by
`reference.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`0002 The present invention relates to a currency media
`reader adapted to connect a network to remotely manage
`payment information. The present invention more precisely
`relates to a currency media reader hub adapted to be retrofit
`ted in a gaming machine and to interconnect various existing
`components thereof.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`0003 Gaming machines are commonly used in the gam
`ing or amusement industries. Generally, the gaming machines
`accept payment in the form of bills, coins, tickets, token and
`other types of currencies.
`0004 Each gaming machine is adapted to individually
`receive payment therein. Accounting of currency transactions
`and statistics of use are useful yet complicated to obtain given
`the limited communication between each gaming machine.
`0005. A mechanism improving collective communication
`among gaming machines and providing accounting of cur
`rency transactions and statistics of use is therefore desirable.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`0006. It is an object of the present invention to ameliorate
`at least some of the inconveniences present in the prior art.
`0007. In view of the foregoing, one object of the present
`invention provides a mechanism adapted to improve commu
`nication between a plurality of gaming machines and a server.
`0008. One object of the present invention provides an
`apparatus permitting remote gathering, transferring and
`auditing payment information.
`0009. Another object of the present invention provides a
`database/datacenter adapted to record transaction events for
`safekeeping and reporting.
`0010. An object of the present invention provides a cur
`rency media reader hub adapted to communicate with a gam
`ing machine and a peripheral component in its communica
`tion mode such that the currency media reader hub can be
`retrofitted between the gaming machine and the peripheral
`component.
`0011. An object of the present invention provides a cur
`rency media reader hub emulating a peripheral component
`installed on a gaming machine; the peripheral component
`could be a money acceptor peripheral to transfer money to the
`gaming machine.
`0012. An additional object of the present invention pro
`Vides a gaming machines management System using a remote
`server; the gaming machines communicating with the remote
`server via currency media reader hubs respectively locally
`connected on the gaming machine and communicating with
`the server using standard an Internet Protocol network and
`Internet.
`
`0013. One another object of the present invention provides
`a currency media reader hub providing both online and offline
`working capability to a gaming machine so that service is kept
`even if the network is down.
`0014) Another object of the present invention provides a
`currency media reader hub adapted to obtain, update or
`change its configuration from a remote web service.
`0015. One other object of the present invention provides a
`currency media reader hub adapted to account an amount of
`money stored in a virtual currency media.
`0016. An aspect of the present invention provides a cur
`rency media reader hub having embedded TCP/IP communi
`cation capability.
`0017. One aspect of the present invention provides a cur
`rency media reader hub adapted to emulate a standard pay
`ment acceptance module Such as a bill acceptor module or
`coinacceptor module; the standard payment acceptance mod
`ule originally connected to the gaming machine may be con
`nected directly to the currency media reader hub that, itself, is
`connected to the gaming machine and provide communica
`tion thereto.
`0018. One another object of the present invention provides
`a mechanism adapted to store events (i.e. transactions, play
`actions . . . ) occurring on a gaming machine in a network
`based datacenter.
`0019. An aspect of the present invention provides one or
`more point of sale (POS) terminals used, interalia, to add or
`remove money on a virtual currency holding media.
`0020. A further aspect of the present invention provides a
`POS terminal adapted to connect to a datacenter to obtain
`gaming data from gaming machines.
`0021. Another aspect of the present invention provides a
`currency media reader hub emulating a gaming machine to
`accept money from peripherals installed thereon.
`0022. One another aspect of the present invention provides
`a currency media reader hub that is an escrow device adapted
`to hold payments in a gaming machine until a virtual currency
`holding media is connected thereto.
`0023. Another aspect of the present invention provides a
`currency media reader hub adapted to transfer an amount of
`money from the virtual currency holding media to a gaming
`machine either automatically or by user request.
`0024. One other aspect of the present invention provides a
`currency media reader hub adapted to act as a gateway and a
`translator between peripherals (bill acceptor, coin acceptor,
`etc) and the gaming machine.
`0025. An aspect of the present invention provides a system
`adapted to manage gaming machines using only cash-in and
`cash-out transactions, without using hand-counts or interfac
`ing directly with a controller board of the gaming machine.
`0026. Another aspect of the present invention provides a
`currency media reader hub adapted to store transactions
`occurring on a gaming machine in a memory when there is no
`connection with a network and adapted to send the transac
`tions stored therein to a server through the network when the
`network is connected thereto.
`0027. Another aspect of the present invention provides a
`point of sale (POS) terminal adapted to download a list of
`queries to be executed by a server upon demand, wherein the
`server returns the results in a pre-formatted ticket ready for
`printing by the POS terminal or for displaying on the user
`interface module.
`0028. One aspect of the present invention provides a SIM/
`SAM card to store a configuration to the currency media
`reader hub to make it easily replaceable in the field.
`
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`
`0029. An aspect of the present invention provides a cur
`rency media reader hub adapted to obtain firmware updates
`from a remote web service.
`0030. Another aspect of the present invention provides a
`currency media reader hub comprising a communication
`board module comprising a communication port module
`adapted to connect the currency media reader hub with a
`peripheral component; a network port module adapted to
`connect the currency media reader hub to a network; a cur
`rency media reader module connected to the communication
`board module, the currency media reader module being
`adapted to communicate with a virtual currency holding
`media and transfer data between the communication board
`module and the virtual currency holding media; a user inter
`face module connected to the communication board and
`adapted to display a currency value stored on the virtual
`currency holding media; and an intelligent board module
`connected to the communication board to provide communi
`cation capability with the network, the intelligent board mod
`ule comprising an IP MAC address module adapted to iden
`tify the currency media reader hub on the network; a memory
`module for storing data; a clock module; and an input/output
`port module.
`0031 One additional aspect of the present invention pro
`vides a method for connecting a currency media reader hub to
`a gaming machine, the method comprising disconnecting a
`currency receiver module from the gaming machine; connect
`ing the currency receiver module to the currency media reader
`hub; and connecting the currency media reader hub to the
`gaming machine so that the currency receiver module and the
`gaming machine communicate therebetween.
`0032. One additional aspect of the present invention pro
`vides a computer readable media comprising computer
`executable instruction providing a method for connecting a
`currency media reader hub to a gaming machine, the method
`comprising selecting a communication mode Suitable to com
`municate between the gaming machine and the currency
`media reader hub, the communication mode being selected
`from a pulse string communication mode, a serial communi
`cation mode and a universal serial bus mode.
`0033 Embodiments of the present invention each have at
`least one of the above-mentioned objects and/or aspects, but
`do not necessarily have all of them. It should be understood
`that some aspects of the present invention that have resulted
`from attempting to attain the above-mentioned objects may
`not satisfy these objects and/or may satisfy other objects not
`specifically recited herein.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`0034) For a better understanding of the invention as well as
`other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to
`the following detailed description to be read in conjunction
`with the accompanying drawings, where:
`0035 FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a network based
`gaming system with a plurality of gaming machines;
`0036 FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary
`construction of a gaming machine;
`0037 FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of a gaming
`machinehaving peripheral components connected thereto via
`a currency media reader hub;
`0038 FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a currency media reader
`hub in accordance with an embodiment of the present inven
`tion;
`FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a network based
`0.039
`gaming system in accordance with an embodiment of the
`present invention;
`
`0040 FIG. 6 is an exemplary flow chart of a process asso
`ciated with en embodiment of the present invention;
`0041
`FIG. 7 is an exemplary flow chart of a process asso
`ciated with en embodiment of the present invention; and
`0042 FIG. 8 is an exemplary flow chart of a process asso
`ciated with en embodiment of the present invention.
`DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S) OF THE
`INVENTION
`0043. The present invention is now described with refer
`ence to the figures. In the following description, for purposes
`of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order
`to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention
`by way of embodiment(s). It may be evident, however, that
`the present invention may be practiced without these specific
`details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices
`are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describ
`ing the present invention.
`0044) The features provided in this specification mainly,
`but might not exclusively, relate to principles of computer
`Software and machine-readable code/instructions adapted to
`instruct a computer, many computers or other machines,
`namely gaming machines, adapted to use the instructions to
`provide material effects on a display, or other means enabling
`human-computer interactions to manage money, currency,
`menus, user-selectable elements and other elements involved
`in playing with gaming machines. These code/instructions
`are preferably stored on a machine-readable medium to be
`read and acted upon to with a gaming machine, slot machine,
`computer or another machine having the appropriate code/
`instructions reading capability.
`0045 Exemplary Network
`0046 FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network 10 in which
`a system, devices and a method, consistent with the present
`invention, may be implemented. The network 10 may include
`multiple gaming machines 12 connected to a server 14 via a
`network 20. The network 20 of the present invention is the
`Internet and could be reached using a solid wired line, Wi-Fi,
`WiMAX or a combination thereof. Two gaming machines 12
`and one server 14 have been illustrated connected to the
`network 20 for simplicity. In practice, there may be more or
`gaming machines 12 and servers 14 without departing from
`the scope of the present invention.
`0047. The gaming machines 12 may include devices, such
`as gaming consoles, slot machine and digital assistants,
`mobile phones, or the like, capable of connecting to the net
`work 20 and adapted to carry on gaming thereon. The gaming
`machines 12 may transmit data over the network 20 or receive
`data from the network 20 via a wired, wireless, or optical
`connections.
`0048. The server 14 may include one or more types of
`computer system, such as a mainframe, minicomputer, or
`personal computer, capable of connecting to the network 20
`and adapted to communicate with the gaming machines 12.
`The server 14 may transmit data over the network 20 or
`receive data from the network 20 via a wired, wireless, or
`optical connection.
`0049. In an implementation consistent with the present
`invention illustratively embodied herein, the server 14
`includes a datacenter 22 connected to the gaming machines
`12. The server 14 stores data information about the gaming
`machines 12 that can be accessible via client devices 16.
`0050 Exemplary Client Architecture
`0051. The following discussion provides a brief, general
`description of an exemplary computer apparatus in which at
`least some aspects of the present invention may be imple
`mented. The present invention will be described in the general
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`
`context of computer-executable instructions, such as program
`modules, being executed by a computerized device. However,
`other apparatuses may affect methods presented in embodi
`ments of the present invention. Program modules may include
`routines, programs, objects, components, data structures,
`applets, WEB 2.0 type of evolved networked centered appli
`cations, etc. that perform a task(s) or implement particular
`abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will
`appreciate that at least Some aspects of the present invention
`may be practiced with other configurations, including hand
`held devices, multiprocessor system, microprocessor-based
`or programmable consumer electronics, network computers,
`minicomputers, set top boxes, mainframe computers, gaming
`console and the like. At least some aspects of the present
`invention are practiced in distributed computing environ
`ments where tasks are performed by remote processing
`devices linked through a communications network as exem
`plified in FIG. 1. In a distributed computing environment,
`program modules may be located in local and/or remote
`memory storage devices.
`0052 With reference to FIG. 2, an exemplary apparatus
`100 for implementing at least some aspects of the present
`invention includes a general purpose-computing device in the
`form of a computer 120 or in the form of a gaming machine.
`The computer 120 may include a processing unit 121, a
`system memory 122, and a system bus 123 that couples vari
`ous system components, including the system memory 122,
`to the processing unit 121. The system bus 123 may be any of
`several types of bus structures including a memory bus or
`memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any
`of a variety of bus architectures. The system memory may
`include read only memory (ROM) 124 and/or random access
`memory (RAM) 125. A basic input/output system 126
`(BIOS), containing basic routines that help to transfer data
`between elements within the computer 120, such as during
`start-up, may be stored in ROM 124. The computer 120 may
`also include a hard disk drive 127 for reading from and
`writing to a hard disk, (not shown), a magnetic disk drive 128
`for reading from or writing to a (e.g., removable) magnetic
`disk 129, and an optical disk drive 130 for reading from or
`writing to a removable (magneto) optical disk 131 Such as a
`compact disk or other (magneto) optical media. The hard disk
`drive 127, magnetic disk drive 128, and (magneto) optical
`disk drive 130 may be coupled with the system bus 123 by a
`hard disk drive interface 132, a magnetic disk drive interface
`133, and a (magneto) optical drive interface 134, respectively.
`The drives and their associated Storage media provide non
`Volatile (or persistent) storage of machine-readable instruc
`tions, data structures, program modules and other data for the
`computer 120. Although the exemplary environment
`described herein employs a hard disk, a removable magnetic
`disk 129 and a removable optical disk 131, these skilled in the
`art will appreciate that other types of Storage media, Such as
`magnetic cassettes, flash memory cards, digital video disks,
`Bernoulli cartridges, random access memories (RAMS), read
`only memories (ROM), remote cloud storage and the like,
`may be used instead of, or in addition to, the storage devices
`introduced above.
`0053 A number of program modules may be stored on the
`hard disk 127, magnetic disk 129, (magneto) optical disk 131,
`ROM 124 or RAM 125, such as an operating system 135 (for
`example, Windows(R) NTRTM.4.0, sold by Microsoft(R) Cor
`poration of Redmond, Wash.), one or more application pro
`grams 136, other program modules 137 (such as 'Alice'.
`which is a research system developed by the User Interface
`Group at Carnegie Mellon University available at www.Ali
`ce.org, OpenGL from Silicon Graphics Inc. of Mountain
`
`View Calif., or Direct3D from Microsoft Corp. of Bellevue
`Wash.), and/or program data 138 for example. Programs
`modules dedicated to gaming machines are considered within
`the scope of the present description.
`0054. A user may enter commands and data into the com
`puter 120 through input devices, such as a keyboard 140, a
`camera 141 and pointing device 142 for example. Other input
`devices (not shown) such as a microphone, joystick, game
`pad, satellite dish, Scanner, a touch sensitive screen, acceler
`ometers adapted to sense movements of the user or move
`ments of a device, or the like may also be included. A currency
`receiver module 164 is also connected with the computer 120.
`The currency receiver module 164 is used when the computer
`120 is embodied as a gaming machine. These and other input
`devices are often connected to the processing unit 180 and
`could either be a bills receiving module 164.1 or a coins
`receiving module 164.2 (illustrated on FIG. 3) through a
`serial port interface 146 coupled to the system bus. However,
`input devices may be connected by other interfaces, such as a
`parallel port, a game port, bluetooth connection or a universal
`serial bus (USB). For example, since the bandwidth of the
`camera 141 may be too great for the serial port, the video
`camera 141 may be coupled with the system bus 123 via a
`video capture card (not shown). The video monitor 147 or
`other type of display device may also be connected to the
`system bus 123 via an interface, such as a video adapter 148
`for example. The video adapter 148 may include a graphics
`accelerator. One or more speaker 162 may be connected to the
`system bus 123 via a sound card 161 (e.g., a wave table
`synthesizer such as product number AWE64 Gold Card from
`CreativeRLabs of Milpitas, Calif.). In addition to the monitor
`147 and speaker(s) 162, the computer 120 may include other
`peripheral output devices (not shown). Such as a printer, a
`hi-definition television and a scanner for example. As an
`alternative or an addition to the video monitor 147, a stereo
`Video output device, such as a head mounted display or LCD
`shutter glasses for example, could be used.
`0055 Alternatively, vintage gaming machines could rely
`on older automated Systems and be built with a primary
`controller providing the intelligence of the machine (e.g. to
`provide odds) and an input output controller adapted to com
`municate with exterior components. The present patent appli
`cation if more directed to state of the art gaming or amuse
`ment machines but nonetheless encompasses vintage gaming
`machines architecture.
`0056. The computer 120 may operate in a networked envi
`ronment that defines logical connections to one or more
`remote computers, such as a remote computer 149. The
`remote computer 149 may be another computer, a server, a
`router, a switch, a network PC, a peer device or other common
`network node, and may include many or all of the elements
`described above relative to the computer 120. The logical
`connections depicted in FIG. 2 include a local area network
`(LAN) 151 and a wide area network (WAN) 152, an intranet
`and the Internet.
`0057. When used in a LAN, the computer 120 may be
`connected to the LAN 151 through a network interface
`adapter (or “NIC) 153. When used in a WAN, such as the
`Internet, the computer 120 may include a modem 154 or other
`means for establishing communications over the wide area
`network 152 (e.g. TCP/IP, Wi-Fi, WinMax, Ethernet, . . . ).
`The modem 154, which may be internal or external, may be
`connected to the system bus 123 via the serial port interface
`146 or another type of port interface. In a networked environ
`ment, at least Some of the program modules depicted relative
`to the computer 120 may be stored in the remote memory
`storage device. The network connections shown are exem
`
`CSC ServiceWorks – Ex. 1004
`Page 12 of 15
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`US 2010/0227671 A1
`
`Sep. 9, 2010
`
`plary and other means of establishing a communications link
`between the computers may be used.
`0058 Turning now to FIG. 3 illustrating a computerized
`gaming machine 180 to which is connected a currency media
`reader hub 200. The gaming machine 180 is embodied as a
`'slot machine', an amusement machine or a gaming machine
`adapted to receive bills and coins respectively with a bills
`receiving module 164.1 and a coins receiving module 164.2.
`The receiving modules 164.1, 164.2 are generally physically
`installed on the gaming machine 180 to receive physical
`money from a player. The money put in the machine allows a
`player to use the gaming machine 180. The receiving modules
`164.1, 164.2 are operatively connected with the gaming
`machine 180 using either a pulse string communication mode
`202 or a serial port communication mode 204. A communi
`cation protocol is used to transmit signals from the receiving
`modules 164 to the gaming machine 180 in accordance with
`the amount of money received by the receiving modules 164.
`In contrast, TCP/IP communication 206 is used between the
`currency media reader hub 200 and the network 20 (e.g.
`generally Internet).
`0059. The currency media reader hub 200 is a physical
`apparatus generally adapted to be installed on existing gam
`ing machines 180. The currency media reader hub 200 can be
`retrofitted on existing gaming machines 180. Existing gaming
`machines 180 are generally equipped with receiving modules
`164.1, 164.2 to receive money from a player. The currency
`media reader hub 200 is then connected in series between the
`receiving modules 164.1, 164.2 and the electronic system of
`the gaming machine 180. Alternatively, new gaming
`machines 180 come with the currency media reader hub 200
`already installed thereon.
`0060 Communication languages that are generally used
`by receiving modules 164.1, 164.2 to transfer data and
`instructions with the gaming machine 180 are used by the
`currency media reader hub 200 to transmit data between the
`receiving modules 164.1, 164.2 and the electronic system of
`the gaming machine 180. The currency media reader hub 200,
`can automatically select the proper communication language,
`normally a pulse string communication mode, a serial com
`munication mode or a universal serial bus communication
`mode, once each module 164 and the gaming machine 180 is
`connected thereto. In other words, the currency media reader
`hub 200 emulates a receiving module 164 on one side and
`emulates a gaming machine 180 on the other side.
`0061. As appreciated in FIG.4, the currency media reader
`hub 200 comprises a plurality of modules interacting together
`to provide the desired functions. The currency media reader
`hub 200 allows a player to prove that s/he is the holder or a
`determined amount of money that can be used in the gaming
`machine 180. The player's money can be virtually secured in
`a magnetic card, a chip-equipped card, a key, an RFID device
`or any other virtual currency holding media suitable to carry
`virtual money. In a preferred embodiment, virtual money is
`secured in an encrypted chip equipped card 208 carried by the
`player and inserted in the currency media reader hub 200 of
`gaming machines 180. The player can make use of the amount
`of virtual money stored on the card 208 when the key 208 is
`readable by the currency media reader hub 200. It has to be
`noted that the currency media reader hub 200 has both reading
`and writing capability and as such is adapted to modify the
`data, the amount of money or other information, stored on the
`card 208.
`0062 Still on FIG.4, the currency media reader hub 200 of
`the present embodiment includes a communication board
`module 210 utilized to manage communication to/from the
`currency media reader hub 200. In this respect, the commu
`
`nication board module 210 further defines a communication
`port module 212 adapted to connect with peripheral compo
`nents, like the receiving modules 164.1, 164.2, and a network
`port module 214 adapted to connect to the network 20. An
`intelligent board module 216 provides a series of other mod
`ules 218-224 adapted to manage the communication between
`the currency media reader hub 200 and a server 14. The
`intelligent board 216 includes an IP MAC address module
`218 providing a unique address to the currency media reader
`hub 200 when connected to Internet, a memory module 220
`adapted to store data therein, a clock module 222 to synchro
`nize communications between the currency media reader hub
`200 and other parties on the network 20 and with the receiving
`modules 164.1, 164.2 and an input/output port module 224
`adapted to connect to other modules of the currency media
`reader hub 200. In an alternate embodiment the communica
`tion board 210 and the intelligent board 216 could be merged
`into a single boards without departing from the scope of the
`present invention. Should a single board be used, the com
`munication board 210 and the intelligent board 216 would be
`found in portions of the single board and still be found
`thereon.
`0063. The currency media reader hub 200 is further
`equipped with a media reader module 226 adapted to read and
`write data on the card 208, a user interface module 228
`comprising interacting interfaces that could include, but not
`limited to, pushbuttons and a screen to display dialogues for
`the player to interact with. A removable memory module 230
`is connectable to the currency media reader hub 200 to carry
`and transmit information providing a unique identification to
`the currency media reader hub 200 and configuration data
`desirable to properly manage the currency media reader hub
`200 and its communications with the network 20. For
`instance, the removable memory module 230, that i