Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine is coupled to a plurality of “USB gaming peripherals.” The USB gaming peripherals, which may include one or more peripheral devices, communicate with a master gaming controller using a USB communication architecture. As part of the USB communication architecture, a USB device class manager may configure a USB device interface. The USB device interface may comprise a plurality of USB drivers where the USB device drivers are used to provide interfaces that are compatible with the gaming operating system such that processes in the gaming operating system may use USB communications to communicate with the plurality of USB gaming peripherals. Further, the USB device class manager may authorize the connection of each USB gaming peripheral to the USB device interface. In addition, the USB device class manager may be capable of downloading firmware to the USB gaming peripherals.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine is coupled to a plurality of “USB gaming peripherals.” The USB gaming peripherals, which may include one or more peripheral devices, communicate with a master gaming controller using a USB communication architecture. The USB gaming peripherals may include USB DFU (Device Firmware Upgrade)-compatible peripheral devices. One or more host processes, such as a USB device class manager or a DFU driver, may be capable of downloading firmware to the USB DFU-compatible peripheral device. The host processes may receive a firmware identifier from the USB DFU-compatible peripheral device where the firmware identifier allows for two USB DFU-compatible peripheral devices with identical product identification information to be downloaded different firmware.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine is coupled to a plurality of “USB gaming peripherals.” The USB gaming peripherals, which may include one or more peripheral devices, communicate with a master gaming controller using a USB communication architecture. The USB communication architecture may include a vendor-specific class protocol. The USB vendor-specific class protocol may comprise: 1) a base protocol for defining message handling relating to peripheral device functionality common to a plurality of peripheral devices; and 2) one or more feature-specific protocol extensions for defining message handling specific to a USB feature where each feature-specific protocol extension defines feature-specific messages. The base protocol may be designed such that when one of the feature-specific messages is modified, the base protocol does not change.

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).). For USB compatible communications, characteristics of a USB gaming peripheral class are defined. The USB gaming peripheral class allows features of a USB gaming peripheral in the USB gaming peripheral class to be controlled by a USB host in a manner compatible with USB.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine is coupled to a plurality of “USB gaming peripherals.” The USB gaming peripherals, which may include one or more peripheral devices, communicate with a master gaming controller using a USB communication architecture. As part of the USB communication architecture, a USB device class manager may configure a USB device interface. The USB device interface may comprise a plurality of USB drivers where the USB device drivers are used to provide interfaces that are compatible with the gaming operating system such that processes in the gaming operating system may use USB communications to communicate with the plurality of USB gaming peripherals. Further, the USB device class manager may authorize the connection of each USB gaming peripheral to the USB device interface. In addition, the USB device class manager may be capable of downloading firmware to the USB gaming peripherals.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine is coupled to a plurality of “USB gaming peripherals.” The USB gaming peripherals, which may include one or more peripheral devices, communicate with a master gaming controller using a USB communication architecture. The USB gaming peripherals may include USB DFU (Device Firmware Upgrade)-compatible peripheral devices. One or more host processes, such as a USB device class manager or a DFU driver, may be capable of downloading firmware to the USB DFU-compatible peripheral device. The host processes may receive a firmware identifier from the USB DFU-compatible peripheral device where the firmware identifier allows for two USB DFU-compatible peripheral devices with identical product identification information to be downloaded different firmware.

Abstract: A disclosed gaming machine is coupled to a plurality of “USB gaming peripherals.” The USB gaming peripherals, which may include one or more peripheral devices, communicate with a master gaming controller using a USB communication architecture. The USB communication architecture may include a vendor-specific class protocol. The USB vendor-specific class protocol may comprise: 1) a base protocol for defining message handling relating to peripheral device functionality common to a plurality of peripheral devices; and 2) one or more feature-specific protocol extensions for defining message handling specific to a USB feature where each feature-specific protocol extension defines feature-specific messages. The base protocol may be designed such that when one of the feature-specific messages is modified, the base protocol does not change.

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).). For USB compatible communications, characteristics of a USB gaming peripheral class are defined. The USB gaming peripheral class allows features of a USB gaming peripheral in the USB gaming peripheral class to be controlled by a USB host in a manner compatible with USB.