Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to different techniques for managing the storage of accumulated information in selected non-volatile memory sources at a gaming machine. In one implementation of the present invention relates to a technique for automatically and dynamically swapping critical data and/or other game related information between the non-volatile RAM and the alternate storage (e.g., disk drive) of a gaming machine as new games are activated and/or existing games are deactivated at the gaming machine.

Abstract: A technique is described for operating a gaming machine adapted to receive a wager on a game of chance. In at least one embodiment, the gaming machine may be adapted to dynamically change its volume. In one implementation, the gaming machine may include a first movable display which may be used to dynamically and/or automatically change the volume of the gaming machine. For example, the first movable display may be automatically moved to a first position to thereby establish a first volume of the gaming machine. The first movable display may also be automatically moved to a second position to thereby establish a second volume of the gaming machine.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine provides a gaming machine with devices able to output entertainment content (e.g. movies, TV programming, audio programs and advertising) from entertainment content sources located within the gaming machine or outside of the gaming machine. A player utilizing the gaming machine may access, independently of game play, entertainment content on the gaming machine where access to the entertainment content is granted according to a predetermined fee. In addition, the player utilizing the gaming machine may receive personal messages on the gaming machine. For example, while utilizing the gaming machine, a player may receive, e-mail, stock quotes, news and advertising that is of particular interest to the player utilizing the gaming machine.

Abstract: A disclosed communication interface for a gaming machine has a main communication board with one or more standard receptor slots for a plurality of “daughter boards,” each daughter board allowing communication between a master gaming controller and a gaming device or between a master gaming controller and a gaming machine network. The daughter boards may be designed to convert between a number of different communication standards or communication formats. Further, the daughter boards may employ a standard connector that allows the daughter board to be plugged into any of the standard receptor slots on the main communication board. Daughter boards may be removed or installed on the main communication board while the main communication board is receiving power. Further, the main communication board with a plurality of standard receptor slots may accommodate many different types of daughter boards and many different combinations of these types of daughter boards.

Abstract: The present invention provides a gaming machine that can play both Class II and Class III games. Some implementations provide a gaming machine that has certain features (e.g., a true random number generator or “RNG”) enabled for Class III play and disabled for Class II play. Some aspects of the invention provide methods for determining when a Class III game is available. Other aspects of the invention allow a player to “line up” for a desired Class III game while playing another game, such as a Class II game or another Class III game, on the same gaming machine until the desired Class III game is available. Some such implementations grant higher priority to certain players according to their gaming history, e.g., as indicated by player tracking/player loyalty data. Alternative aspects of the invention allocate available Class III games in other ways, e.g., by playing a Class II game for a chance to play a Class III game, by lottery, or otherwise.

Abstract: A progressive jackpot system for allowing access to multiple wide area progressive jackpots at a gaming machine is described. The gaming machine connected to the progressive systems can be switched between two or more different progressive games where each progressive game provides the chance to win a different wide area progressive jackpot. The gaming machine may be operable to dynamically connect to and communicate with one or more different progressive systems. Switches can be triggered based upon a player input at the gaming machine or based upon a command received from a remote gaming device.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for downloading peripheral control code to a peripheral of a gaming device are disclosed. One embodiment of the method includes the steps of providing a peripheral controller adapted to control the peripheral device and a programmable memory associated with the controller, providing a signal for causing control code to be transmitted from a remote location to said peripheral, transmitting the control code to the peripheral, storing the control code at the programmable memory, and executing the code with the peripheral controller to enable the operation of the peripheral device by the peripheral controller. In one embodiment, the control code is transmitted from a data storage device associated with the gaming control device. In one embodiment, the control code is authenticated before it is transmitted to the peripheral, and is verified after being transmitted to the peripheral.

Abstract: A portable memory apparatus may include a player identification and game outcomes associated with the player identification. The portable memory apparatus may communicatively couple with a gaming apparatus, provide a game outcome to the gaming apparatus, and communicatively decouple from the gaming apparatus. A gaming apparatus may include a display unit, an input device and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the input device. The controller may be programmed to cause the input device to read game outcome data stored in a portable memory, to determine an outcome based on the game outcome data, to display the outcome on the display unit, to determine if the outcome is a winning outcome, to determine a value payout if the outcome is a winning outcome, and to cause the input device to update the portable memory with data relating to the outcome or the value payout.

Abstract: A gaming communication apparatus may include a wireless transceiver and a controller operatively coupled to the wireless transceiver. The controller may be programmed to establish a bidirectional wireless communication link with a gaming apparatus when in proximity to the gaming apparatus, receive a voice command relating to a first gaming function, transmit first gaming function data to the gaming apparatus via the wireless transceiver, and receive data relating to a second gaming function from the gaming apparatus via the wireless transceiver. The gaming apparatus may include a second wireless transceiver and a second controller operatively coupled to the second wireless transceiver. The second controller may be programmed to receive the first gaming function data via the second wireless transceiver, execute a first gaming function based on the first gaming function data, and transmit the second gaming function data to the wireless communication device via the second wireless transceiver.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing a virtual leash and command download capabilities on a hand-held personal gaming device (“PGD”) are disclosed. A host gaming system includes a game server configured to generate game seeds having data regarding predetermined game outcomes for various wager based games, and an authentication server configured to establish a virtual leash with a PGD. The virtual leash is adapted to repeatedly authenticate or verify a PGD user, a PGD location, the PGD itself, and/or software codes on the PGD. Included within an associated PGD are a display adapted to display gaming related information, a processor configured to execute gaming related code, and a memory containing a command download of computer code to be executed by the processor. The command download of computer code includes enough code for the PGD to process and display independently a game play based on a game seed.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for downloading peripheral control code to a peripheral of a gaming device are disclosed. One embodiment of the method includes the steps of providing a peripheral controller adapted to control the peripheral device and a programmable memory associated with the controller, providing a signal for causing control code to be transmitted from a remote location to said peripheral, transmitting the control code to the peripheral, storing the control code at the programmable memory, and executing the code with the peripheral controller to enable the operation of the peripheral device by the peripheral controller. In one embodiment, the control code is transmitted from a data storage device associated with the gaming control device. In one embodiment, the control code is authenticated before it is transmitted to the peripheral, and is verified after being transmitted to the peripheral.

Abstract: Gaming machines and networks capable of providing universal mediation between multiple disparate gaming systems are disclosed. In particular, multiple disparate gaming systems providing different services and features can be accessed by a player throughout a gaming session at a gaming device as a result of a single player transaction using a universal indicia of identification by the player. Such an indicia can include a card, token, PIN, biometric identifier and/or other identification source. A player identification device at the gaming device can accept such indicia, and can also facilitate protocol mediation and hardware mediation between the gaming device and each of the multiple disparate gaming systems. Enhanced DCUs may also be used to facilitate such mediations, and also to provide redundant communication paths between a LAN containing the gaming device and a WAN including the multiple disparate gaming systems.

Abstract: Apparatuses and systems including a gaming machine having one or more major components that are removable and interchangeable with other similar major components for a gaming machine are disclosed. Such a gaming machine has at least a master gaming controller, one or more major components, and a universal gaming engine. At least one major component, such as a top box or main cabinet, contains a plurality of peripheral devices and a universal communication interface, is adapted to be removable from the gaming machine, and is interchangeable with other similar major components. The universal gaming engine contains at least one dedicated processing unit, such as a CPU, at least one associated storage device, and its own universal communication interface. This universal gaming engine is also adapted to control a substantial portion of the plurality of peripheral devices on the removable and interchangeable major component of the gaming machine.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine provides a gaming machine with devices able to output entertainment content (e.g. movies, TV programming, audio programs and advertising) from entertainment content sources located within the gaming machine or outside of the gaming machine. A player utilizing the gaming machine may access, independently of game play, entertainment content on the gaming machine where access to the entertainment content is granted according to a predetermined fee. In addition, the player utilizing the gaming machine may receive personal messages on the gaming machine. For example, while utilizing the gaming machine, a player may receive, e-mail, stock quotes, news and advertising that is of particular interest to the player utilizing the gaming machine.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine provides a gaming machine with a non-volatile memory storage device and gaming software that allows the dynamic allocation and de-allocation of memory locations in a non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory storage devices interface to an industry standard peripheral component interface (PCI) bus commonly used in the computer industry allowing communication between a master gaming controller the non-volatile memory. The master gaming controller executes software for a non-volatile memory allocation system that enables the dynamic allocation and de-allocation of non-volatile memory locations. In addition, the non-volatile memory allocation system enables a non-volatile memory file system. With the non-volatile memory file system, critical data stored in the non-volatile memory may be accessed and modified using operating system utilities such as word processors, graphic utilities and compression utilities.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine has a plurality of “gaming peripherals,” each communicating with a master gaming controller via a standard peripheral interface such as the USB (Universal Serial Bus). Further, the gaming peripherals employ a standard peripheral controller and one or more specialized “peripheral devices” (e.g., the actual lights, bill validators, ticket printers, etc. that perform the specific functions of the gaming peripherals). Much of the hardware associated with the peripheral controller is identical from one gaming peripheral to the next. Only a portion of the peripheral controller hardware is specific to the different types of gaming peripherals.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine has a plurality of “gaming peripherals,” each communicating with a master gaming controller via a standard peripheral interface such as the USB (Universal Serial Bus). Further, the gaming peripherals employ a standard peripheral controller and one or more specialized “peripheral devices” (e.g., the actual lights, bill validators, ticket printers, etc. that perform the specific functions of the gaming peripherals). Much of the hardware associated with the peripheral controller is identical from one gaming peripheral to the next. Only a portion of the peripheral controller hardware is specific to the different types of gaming peripherals.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for downloading peripheral control code to a peripheral of a gaming device are disclosed. One embodiment of the method includes the steps of providing a peripheral controller adapted to control the peripheral device and a programmable memory associated with the controller, providing a signal for causing control code to be transmitted from a remote location to said peripheral, transmitting the control code to the peripheral, storing the control code at the programmable memory, and executing the code with the peripheral controller to enable the operation of the peripheral device by the peripheral controller. In one embodiment, the control code is transmitted from a data storage device associated with the gaming control device. In one embodiment, the control code is authenticated before it is transmitted to the peripheral, and is verified after being transmitted to the peripheral.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine has a plurality of “gaming peripherals,” each communicating with a master gaming controller via a standard peripheral interface such as the USB (Universal Serial Bus). Further, the gaming peripherals employ a standard peripheral controller and one or more specialized “peripheral devices” (e.g., the actual lights, bill validators, ticket printers, etc. that perform the specific functions of the gaming peripherals). Much of the hardware associated with the peripheral controller is identical from one gaming peripheral to the next. Only a portion of the peripheral controller hardware is specific to the different types of gaming peripherals.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine has a plurality of “gaming peripherals,” each communicating with a master gaming controller via a standard peripheral interface such as the USB (Universal Serial Bus). Further, the gaming peripherals employ a standard peripheral controller and one or more specialized “peripheral devices” (e.g., the actual lights, bill validators, ticket printers, etc. that perform the specific functions of the gaming peripherals). Much of the hardware associated with the peripheral controller is identical from one gaming peripheral to the next. Only a portion of the peripheral controller hardware is specific to the different types of gaming peripherals.