Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for a distributed promotional coupon system for use within a casino which has cash-less gaming machines involving a plurality of game installed cash-out Voucher Printers networked to a central server. A central coupon server harnesses the processing power of the plurality of printers, tasking each one to analyze the player activity of the game into which it is installed. Handshaking and signaling between the server and the plurality of printers ensure that the server was system master, approving the issuance of all coupons. One advantage of the system is the simplification of the server whose real-time processing requirements become more of data routing than analysis.

Abstract: A secured gaming table vouchering system to enable the use of game vouchers and promotional coupons and cashless gaming at gaming tables such as a poker table and a gaming table device for use therein. The secured gaming table vouchering system and gaming table device allows casinos and other types of gambling establishments to link gaming tables and point of sale terminals in or associated with a casino to connect and use systems in use, such as the TITO (Ticket In Ticket Out) host system, for credit transfer from cash, RFID chips, non-RFID chips, gaming vouchers, and promotional coupons to gaming vouchers and promotional coupons thereby expanding the use of credit transfer within a gaming establishment and or associated gaming establishments and their slot machines, change machines, and cashier cages.

Abstract: A gaming table device which allows casinos and other types of gambling establishments to link gaming tables and point of sale terminals in or associated with a casino to connect and use systems. The systems may include a TITO (Ticket In Ticket Out) host system for credit transfer from cash, RFID chips, non-RFID chips, gaming vouchers, and promotional coupons to gaming vouchers, promotional coupons, chips and rewritable cards, among others, thereby expanding the use of credit transfer within a gaming establishment and or associated gaming establishments and their slot machines, change machines, and cashier cages to include gaming tables.

Abstract: A modular gaming transaction printer for grayscale printing which may interface with multiple host systems and multiple gaming machine protocols, download application code or code patches, receive printer maintenance instructions, arbitrate print jobs received from various communication interfaces, support worldwide languages, and utilize firmware version consolidation. The printer further includes security features and memory protection. The printer further includes segmented memory for content related to each communication interface, gaming machine, or host system, among others. Additionally, the printer supports Unicode, configuration to worldwide languages, configuration to multiple protocols, and configuration to prior firmware versions for backward compatibility, among others. The printer may include a plurality of paper trays to hold media of the same size, but different characteristics.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a promotional printer for use within a cashless enabled gaming machine or vending machine are disclosed. A promotional printer includes a coupon database describing a stack of coupons that are specified using a template based couponing printer language. A coupon is selected for creation and issued to a user or player based on a matrix of event-based triggers involving factors or parameters known to the promotional printer directly or supplied by a master promotional controller. Triggers may include the time of day, the date or amount of a cash-out voucher to be issued to the user or player, the duration of play on a gaming machine, a player classification, the amount of money or credits added to a game, or a random frequency of coupon issuance having satisfied any or all of the aforementioned factors.

Abstract: A gaming machine printer. The gaming machine printer creates printed vouchers, tickets, receipts, etc. for use in gaming applications employing cashless enabled gaming systems. The gaming machine printer includes a voucher management system having a burster bar for separating vouchers and a serpentine voucher guide that may be opened for inspection. The gaming machine printer further includes various electrical features that protect the gaming machine printer from electrostatic discharges.

Abstract: A secured gaming table device that uses TITO and RFID to use and exchange vouchers, winnings from slot machines, promotions, and coupons; provide cashless payout from a gaming table; provide transaction receipts; link gaming tables; and connect and use systems in use, such as the TITO System and Player Tracking System, for credit transfer to and from game vouchers, player tracking cards, promotional coupons, cash, RFID chips, and non-RFID chips, among others, thereby expanding the use of credit transfer to include gaming tables. The secured gaming table device includes a gaming printer, barcode reader or scanner, bill validator, interface, and keypad, among others; and connects to host systems for the issuance and redemption of vouchers and/or promotional coupons at a gaming table.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a vending promotional printer for use within a vending machine are disclosed. A vending promotional printer includes a coupon database describing a stack of coupons that are specified using a template based couponing printer language. A coupon is selected for creation and issued to the customer based on a matrix of event-based triggers involving factors or parameters known to the vending promotional printer directly or supplied by master promotional controller. Triggers may include the time of day, the date or amount of a cash-out voucher to be issued to a customer, the duration of play on a vending machine, a customer classification, the amount of money or credits added to a game, or a random frequency of coupon issuance having satisfied any or all of the aforementioned factors.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for changing firmware in a gaming printer. The printer containing computer memory, internal and/or external to the printer, with the memory divided logically into multiple parts; a first section containing computer codes, a second section containing the data describing the format of gaming vouchers, and a third section containing data describing the format of promotional coupons. A mathematically unique identifier is created as an individual signature for each section of the memory, with each signature being independent of the other signatures, thus allowing for the changing the contents of one or more sections of the memory without affecting the contents of the unchanged sections of the memory.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for changing firmware in a gaming printer. The printer containing computer memory, internal and/or external to the printer, with the memory divided logically into multiple parts; a first section containing computer codes, a second section containing the data describing the format of gaming vouchers, and a third section containing data describing the format of promotional coupons. A mathematically unique identifier is created as an individual signature for each section of the memory, with each signature being independent of the other signatures, thus allowing for the changing the contents of one or more sections of the memory without affecting the contents of the unchanged sections of the memory.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a promotional printer for use within a cashless enabled gaming machine or vending machine are disclosed. A promotional printer includes a coupon database describing a stack of coupons that are specified using a template based couponing printer language. A coupon is selected for creation and issued to a user or player based on a matrix of event-based triggers involving factors or parameters known to the promotional printer directly or supplied by a master promotional controller. Triggers may include the time of day, the date or amount of a cash-out voucher to be issued to the user or player, the duration of play on a gaming machine, a player classification, the amount of money or credits added to a game, or a random frequency of coupon issuance having satisfied any or all of the aforementioned factors.

Abstract: Guest services system for couponing and gaming where guests using an access point such as their room or kiosk select which promotions to view, which incentives and/or coupons to print and request and/or receive play credits. Additionally, secured means include using a PIN, password, and/or a secured card such as a room card or player tracking card to access and view incentives, request play credit, receive incentives and/or play credit, and/or purchase play credit. The system includes a connection to host systems, a controller, a user interface, input device, output device, card reading device as well as personal communication devices such as a computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a gaming promotional printer for use within a cashless enabled gaming machine are disclosed. A gaming promotional printer includes a coupon database describing a stack of coupons that are specified using a template based couponing printer language. A coupon is selected for creation and issued to the player based on a matrix of event-based triggers involving factors or parameters known to the gaming promotional printer directly or supplied by master promotional controller. Triggers may include the time of day, the date or amount of a cash-out voucher to be issued to a player, the duration of play on a gaming machine, a player classification, the amount of money or credits added to a game, or a random frequency of coupon issuance having satisfied any or all of the aforementioned factors.

Abstract: Couponing system including one or more games and/or point of redemption in one or more gaming establishments and/or business entities worldwide. Each game and/or point of redemption includes a printer and bill validator, where each connect to the couponing system using a port or interface for issuance, tracking, and redemption of coupons and/or prizes and using another port or interface to connect to other systems for player tracking or issuance, tracking and redemption of game vouchers. The system offers varying prize levels with coupons issued based on player's participation and/or activity, independent of participation and/or activity of other players. Player receives coupon with value of anything including nonplaying credits. At redemption, coupon is replaced with another or new coupon with additional rewards.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for a promotional coupon system which can provide promotions and promotional coupons to all patrons of a casino, specifically to patrons who do not want to provide personal information yet would enjoy receiving promotions. Casinos can track an anonymous player and offer incentives such as promotional coupons to the player to entice them to return to the casino. The system provides a means for the creation and issuance of promotional coupons as well as the tracking of the redemption of such coupons and the tracking of anonymous players, to provide real-time monitoring of a gaming printer's activities; for connecting to other existing systems in a casino, such as an accounting system or point-of-sale system. Additionally, such a system may use existing equipment such as a gaming printer to produce such coupons, however, only after the existing equipment produces a cash-out voucher.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a gaming promotional printer for use within a cashless enabled gaming machine are disclosed. A gaming promotional printer includes a coupon database describing a stack of coupons that are specified using a template based couponing printer language. A coupon is selected for creation and issued to the player based on a matrix of event-based triggers involving factors or parameters known to the gaming promotional printer directly or supplied by master promotional controller. Triggers may include the time of day, the date or amount of a cash-out voucher to be issued to a player, the duration of play on a gaming machine, a player classification, the amount of money or credits added to a game, or a random frequency of coupon issuance having satisfied any or all of the aforementioned factors.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for promotional couponing system where coupons, campaigns, and promotions are designed on central server and issued to network of printing devices and redeemed from redemption devices. The logic that processes input contained within each printer and print and redeem device connected to network so each device independently analyzes its own input and requests permission to print coupon from central server. The system uses coupons to maneuver players to play games least in use or to a specific location. Coupons include map and directions to direct the player.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring and regulating public street parking using RF and RFID technology including: tracking expired parking tickets and illegally parked vehicles and identifying parked vehicles using parking ticket from another location. The apparatus includes a central server coupled to parking enforcement, EDI, one or more kiosks, and a plurality of portable or mobile RFID transceivers. Each kiosk includes a controller, RFID transceiver, printer, card reader, cash acceptor, camera, connection to sensor LAN, connection to RFID transceiver LAN, connection to EDI, connection to central server, cash return mechanism, and parking violation mechanism. The apparatus uses a plurality of RFID parking tickets, with each ticket having a unique RFID tag or chip. Users acquire and pay for the RFID parking tickets using the kiosks and place the RFID tickets on their cars while parked.

Abstract: A paper jam detector for a gaming machine. A paper jam detector is integrated with a gaming machine printer that produces cash-out paper vouchers, print-on-demand player tracking cards, or tickets. A paper jam detector may be entirely self-contained and include all of the mechanical, electrical, electronic, and software components used to detect a paper jam and communicate with a gaming machine or a host. A paper jam detector may also be distributed throughout a gaming machine printer, thereby utilizing various components of the gaming machine printer's printing mechanism and control module. The paper jam detector detects paper jam conditions by monitoring the movement of the paper through the mechanical portions of the gaming machine printer and signals to the gaming machine printer, gaming machine, or host when a paper jam occurs.

Abstract: A direct thermal printer device that can be used in any application using thermal printers. A direct thermal printer creates images on thermally active medium by applying light energy or radiant thermal energy created by a thermal heat source to create the heat necessary for generating an image on the thermal medium. The thermal energy source may be a laser, a high output light source, or a radiant heating element.