Abstract: The present disclosure provides an apparatus for removing material from an internal surface of a pipe. The apparatus comprises a low-power cutting tool for insertion into the pipe and configured to remove material from an internal surface of the pipe. The cutting tool comprises a housing for insertion within the pipe, a cutting head extending from the housing and a cutting tip for machining the internal surface of the pipe in a machining operation when the cutting tool is inserted into the pipe, and one or more actuators for driving the cutting tip. The apparatus further comprises one or more processors, and a computer-readable memory storing instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, control the one or more actuators to cause the cutting tip to machine the internal surface of the pipe, such that the cutting tool is maintained in a low-power configuration.

Abstract: An embedded user interface incorporated into a gaming device, the gaming device including a gaming presentation of a base game and a gaming processor for controlling the base game. The embedded user interface includes: a player tracking interface and an embedded processor. The player tracking interface includes (or is associated with) a display screen and enables display of a system game to a user, presentation of information to the user, and reception of information from the user. The embedded processor employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor, enables control of the system game, control of player tracking information, and control of non-gaming information. In one embodiment, the embedded user interface enables control of a system game of which at least a portion of the system game is presented physically external to the embedded user interface.

Abstract: Gaming machines may be remotely accessed by a gaming machine management server. The gaming machine management server may access a respective gaming machine while the respective gaming machine is powered off. The gaming machine management server may access a respective gaming machine while the respective gaming machine is powered on and concurrently while an operating system of the respective gaming machine is being executed.

Abstract: A gaming device includes a housing and a game display carried by the housing for displaying one or more games. The gaming device further includes two card readers carried by the housing: a first card reader to read information indicative of a player identity from a player club card issued by a casino, and a second card reader to read information indicative of a financial account from a financial card issued by a financial institution.

Abstract: A system for verifying one or more downloaded components 54 of a gaming device 10 that includes the gaming device, which has an alterable hard drive 80 (or other persistent storage media 90), and the downloaded components that further include gaming-related content 92-96. A related method includes: enabling initiation of a game on the gaming device 10; downloading the gaming-related content 92-96 to the alterable hard drive 80 while the gaming device 10 is enabled for game play; reading an identifier associated with the gaming-related content 92-96; verifying that the identifier is valid (using verification software 70); and reconfiguring the gaming device 10 to utilize the newly-downloaded, gaming-related content 92-96 in response to an initiating event.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for authenticating a gaming device, wherein the gaming device includes a plurality of components, one of which is a storage device.

Abstract: A gaming machine and methods for independently controlling the movement of each mechanical reel are disclosed. The gaming machine includes a plurality of mechanical reels each having indicia provided on an outer surface of each of the reels. A game controller generates a game outcome and determines a spin duration for each of the plurality of reels. One or more stepper motors are operatively coupled to the mechanical reels to independently spin each reel. A reel control unit is in communication with one or more stepper motors and the game controller. The reel control unit determines an appropriate spin profile for each reel based upon the game outcome and the spin duration to cause the reels to spin and stop in a rhythmic manner.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) implements a multi-core processor. A first of the processor cores is adapted to perform or otherwise control a first set of operations. The first set of operations can include, for example, game manager operations and other operations of the EGM that are more time-sensitive. A second one of the processor cores is adapted to perform or otherwise control a second set of operations. The second set of operations can include, for example, operations related to multimedia presentation associated with the running/playing of a game and/or other operations of the EGM that are not time-sensitive or are otherwise less time-sensitive than the operations performed/controlled by the first processor core. Each of the processor cores may run an operating system that matches the needs of its respective processor core.

Abstract: A gaming device, method and system where the gaming device may be partitioned to create plural virtual machines to execute software applications to operate hardware resources of the gaming device to operate one or more games of chance. At least one of the software applications is subject to real time constraints.

Abstract: An enhanced gaming system utilizes a touch panel as a user control device for game play features which provides users with the enhanced flexibility and interactivity of a video gaming device in a gaming device environment. The enhanced gaming system includes a set of reels, a panel, and a user control device. The panel overlays a set of reels. The set of reels are visible through at least one portion of the panel. The user control interface includes a substantially transparent touch panel overlaying the reels. In one embodiment, the user control interface enables a user control of reel spin direction in correspondence with direction in which the touch panel is touched by the user. In another aspect, the user control interface enables a user control of reel spin speed in correspondence with the speed in which the user touches the touch panel.

Abstract: Methods for receiving and processing input on a gaming machine using a virtual user interface are disclosed herein. Gaming machines having a virtual user interface are also disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, the gaming machine includes a game display for presenting a game. The gaming machine also includes a virtual interface controller for generating and presenting a virtual user interface on a surface of the gaming machine where the virtual user interface receives user input for gaming or non-gaming functions. The gaming machine also includes a game controller in communication with the game display and the virtual interface controller.

Abstract: An enhanced mechanical gaming system (10) utilizes a touch panel (40) as a user control device for mechanical assemblies and game play features which provides users with the enhanced flexibility and interactivity of a video gaming device in a mechanical gaming device environment. The enhanced mechanical gaming system (10) includes a gaming machine assembly (20), a touch sensor assembly (30) incorporating a substantially transparent touch panel (40), a touch panel controller (50), and touch panel software (60). The gaming machine assembly is a standard gaming machine assembly that has been modified to utilize touch-panel components. The touch panel (40) and the sensor assembly (30) produce touch data when activated, and provide viewing of mechanical assemblies behind the touch panel (40). The touch panel controller (50) acts to control and interpret the touch panel (40).

Abstract: A gaming machine and methods for independently controlling the movement of each mechanical reel are disclosed. The gaming machine includes a plurality of mechanical reels each having indicia provided on an outer surface of each of the reels. A game controller generates a game outcome and determines a spin duration for each of the plurality of reels. One or more stepper motors are operatively coupled to the mechanical reels to independently spin each reel. A reel control unit is in communication with one or more stepper motors and the game controller. The reel control unit determines an appropriate spin profile for each reel based upon the game outcome and the spin duration to cause the reels to spin and stop in a rhythmic manner.

Abstract: Methods for receiving and processing input on a gaming machine using a virtual user interface are disclosed herein. According to one method, a gaming machine having a game display for presenting a game is able to generate a virtual user interface of a surface of the gaming machine. The virtual user interface includes one or more virtual components that correspond to one or more game functions. The gaming machine receives and processes user input via the virtual user interface. The gaming machine then performs the game function corresponding to the user input. Gaming machines having a virtual user interface are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, the gaming machine includes a game display for presenting a game. The gaming machine also includes a virtual interface controller for generating and presenting a virtual user interface on a surface of the gaming machine where the virtual user interface receives user input for gaming or non-gaming functions.

Abstract: A gaming machine and methods for independently controlling the movement of each mechanical reel are disclosed. The gaming machine includes a plurality of mechanical reels each having indicia provided on an outer surface of each of the reels. A game controller generates a game outcome and determines a spin duration for each of the plurality of reels. One or more stepper motors are operatively coupled to the mechanical reels to independently spin each reel. A reel control unit is in communication with one or more stepper motors and the game controller. The reel control unit determines an appropriate spin profile for each reel based upon the game outcome and the spin duration to cause the reels to spin and stop in a rhythmic manner.

Abstract: An embedded user interface incorporated into a gaming device, the gaming device including a gaming presentation of a base game and a gaming processor for controlling the base game. The embedded user interface includes: a player tracking interface and an embedded processor. The player tracking interface includes (or is associated with) a display screen and enables display of a system game to a user, presentation of information to the user, and reception of information from the user. The embedded processor employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor, enables control of the system game, control of player tracking information, and control of non-gaming information. In one embodiment, the embedded user interface enables control of a system game of which at least a portion of the system game is presented physically external to the embedded user interface.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for authenticating a gaming device, wherein the gaming device includes a plurality of components, one of which is a storage device.

Abstract: There is provided a method and system for verifying a device, having components. Identification numbers of the components are read and then verified. The process of verifying comprises matching each identification number in a database to determine whether each identification number is valid. In one embodiment, the database is remote from the device, wherein verification is performed over a network connecting a database server containing the database with the device. The device transmits the identification numbers for each of the components to the database server for verification. A file allocation structure reader may be located in a basic input/output system of the device for reading and verifying data files from a persistent storage media without loading an operating system. The device may comprise a gaming machine that contains a monitor for monitoring one or more system events being processed by the gaming machine. The monitor monitors routine and non-routine events.

Abstract: A system for verifying one or more downloaded components 54 of a gaming device 10 that includes the gaming device, which has an alterable hard drive 80 (or other persistent storage media 90), and the downloaded components that further include gaming-related content 92-96. A related method includes: enabling initiation of a game on the gaming device 10; downloading the gaming-related content 92-96 to the alterable hard drive 80 while the gaming device 10 is enabled for game play; reading an identifier associated with the gaming-related content 92-96; verifying that the identifier is valid (using verification software 70); and reconfiguring the gaming device 10 to utilize the newly-downloaded, gaming-related content 92-96 in response to an initiating event.

Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) implements a multi-core processor. A first of the processor cores is adapted to perform or otherwise control a first set of operations. The first set of operations can include, for example, game manager operations and other operations of the EGM that are more time-sensitive. A second one of the processor cores is adapted to perform or otherwise control a second set of operations. The second set of operations can include, for example, operations related to multimedia presentation associated with the running/playing of a game and/or other operations of the EGM that are not time-sensitive or are otherwise less time-sensitive than the operations performed/controlled by the first processor core. Each of the processor cores may run an operating system that matches the needs of its respective processor core.