Abstract: A guest tracking and management system includes at least one guest beacon device being associated with a guest within a venue, at least one tracker device being associated with a venue representative, at least one beacon station being associated with a location within the venue, and at least one tracker station being associated with a location within the venue. The system also includes a centralized guest management system. The guest beacon device communicates with the tracker device and the beacon station using a short-range communication protocol, the tracker device and the beacon station communicate with the tracker station using a short-range communication protocol, and the beacon station and tracker station communicate with the centralized guest management system using a low-power wide-area network.

Abstract: A universal method and computer system for downloading game software to legacy gaming machines are provided. A gaming machine includes two computing devices within a locked enclosure, the first computer device programmed to enable game play of the gaming machine and the second computing device configured for network access. An interface is between the computing devices. The second computing device receives game software components over the network that are compatible with the first computing device but not compatible with the second computing device and transfers the received components to the first computing device over the interface. When the first computing device is a PC, it may be configured with dual-boot capability between two operating computer systems. When the first operating computer system is booted, game play may be enabled. When the second operating computer system is booted, game software components may be received over the network.

Abstract: A method for gaming terminals, gaming kiosks and lottery terminals to ensure that the code-signing verification process of downloaded game software can be trusted. Drivers independently developed from the operating system supplier are embedded within the operating system kernel to verify that the micro-coded hardware components, the BIOS (808), the operating system components and the downloaded game software can be trusted.

Abstract: A gaming system that executes a web browser to display games produced by the at least one server, take over processing from the web browser using a plug-in for the web browser upon detection of a predetermined player interaction with the web browser, carries out a game transaction, using the plug-in for the web browser, including a game bet and an amount wagered for each game played, commits each game transaction, using the plug-in for the web browser, by sending at least the game bet and the amount wagered to the at least one server and to receive a validation transaction corresponding to the committed game transaction back from the at least one server, and relinquishes control, using the plug-in for the web browser, back to the web browser upon receipt of the validation transaction from the at least one server.

Abstract: A gaming system that executes a web browser to display games produced by the at least one server, take over processing from the web browser using a plug-in for the web browser upon detection of a predetermined player interaction with the web browser, carries out a game transaction, using the plug-in for the web browser, including a game bet and an amount wagered for each game played, commits each game transaction, using the plug-in for the web browser, by sending at least the game bet and the amount wagered to the at least one server and to receive a validation transaction corresponding to the committed game transaction back from the at least one server, and relinquishes control, using the plug-in for the web browser, back to the web browser upon receipt of the validation transaction from the at least one server.

Abstract: A trusted disaster tolerant system architecture supporting concurrently a number of distributed online gaming operations such as slip-scan lottery, video lottery, fixed odd betting terminals, Internet gaming, and interactive TV. A personality front end resolves the peculiarities of the various client systems before submitting the relevant transactional payload to a trusted transactional cache. A universal game random generator may be used either at the central game server or at each individual gaming machine, thus conferring a significant trust to the entire estate of gaming machines fitted with the game random generator. An auditable trusted log allows to rapidly resolve any dispute. The instant-draw model and the differed-draw model are supported. The system may advantageously be used in casino environments.

Abstract: A trusted disaster tolerant system architecture supporting concurrently a number of distributed online gaming operations such as slip-scan lottery, video lottery, fixed odd betting terminals, Internet gaming, and interactive TV. A personality front end resolves the peculiarities of the various client systems before submitting the relevant transactional payload to a trusted transactional cache. A universal game random generator may be used either at the central game server or at each individual gaming machine, thus conferring a significant trust to the entire estate of gaming machines fitted with the game random generator. An auditable trusted log allows to rapidly resolve any dispute. The instant-draw model and the differed-draw model are supported. The system may advantageously be used in casino environments.

Abstract: A secure and modular architecture for monitoring and controlling clusters of pay entertainment and gaming devices. The architecture allows flexible and secure use of state-of-the-art multimedia and Internet technologies to attract the younger player generation used to flashy and networked games. Cash or cash-less entertainment and gaming devices are supported.

Abstract: A trusted disaster tolerant system architecture supporting concurrently a number of distributed online gaming operations such as slip-scan lottery, video lottery, fixed odd betting terminals, Internet gaming, and interactive TV. A personality front end resolves the peculiarities of the various client systems before submitting the relevant transactional payload to a trusted transactional cache. A universal game random generator may be used either at the central game server or at each individual gaming machine, thus conferring a significant trust to the entire estate of gaming machines fitted with the game random generator. An auditable trusted log allows to rapidly resolve any dispute. The instant-draw model and the differed-draw model are supported. The system may advantageously be used in casino environments.

Abstract: A universal method and computer system for downloading game software to legacy gaming machines are provided. A gaming machine includes two computing devices within a locked enclosure, the first computer device programmed to enable game play of the gaming machine and the second computing device configured for network access. An interface is between the computing devices. The second computing device receives game software components over the network that are compatible with the first computing device but not compatible with the second computing device and transfers the received components to the first computing device over the interface. When the first computing device is a PC, it may be configured with dual-boot capability between two operating computer systems. When the first operating computer system is booted, game play may be enabled. When the second operating computer system is booted, game software components may be received over the network.

Abstract: A secure and modular architecture for monitoring and controlling clusters of pay entertainment and gaming devices. The architecture allows flexible and secure use of state-of-the-art multimedia and Internet technologies to attract the younger player generation used to flashy and networked games. Cash or cash-less entertainment and gaming devices are supported.

Abstract: In a discharge type battery management system and a method thereof, a monitoring unit is used to monitor a plurality of battery units, and if there is a change of electric potential, current and temperature of the battery units, a control unit controls a plurality of separate energy storage units, so that when the battery pack is charged, at least one of the battery units with a relatively high potential is discharged to equalize the overall electric potential of the battery pack, so as to enhance the energy conversion efficiency.

Abstract: In a charge type battery management system and a method thereof, a monitoring unit is used to monitor a plurality of battery units, and if there is a change of electric potential, current and temperature of the battery units, a control unit controls a plurality of separate energy storage units, so that when the battery pack is charged, the overall electric energy of the system is used to increase the current and charge at least one of the battery units with a relatively low potential in order to equalize the overall electric potential of the battery pack, so as to enhance the energy conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A universal method and system for downloading game software to ROM based legacy gaming machines, activating selected games and providing new services. The method includes a ROM emulator for replacing the game program image and an NVRAM emulator for swapping the game context and critical meters accordingly. The method includes detection of the state of the current game activity such as to activate a new game only at an authorized time, when no player is playing a game or is carded-in for example. The system includes emulation of the original peripherals fitted to the legacy gaming machine such as to offer extended functionality and services. The universal method and system therefore prolongs the useful life of legacy machines which otherwise would be prematurely retired.

Abstract: A method for gaming terminals, gaming kiosks and lottery terminals to ensure that the code-signing verification process of downloaded game software can be trusted. Drivers independently developed from the operating system supplier are embedded within the operating system kernel to verify that the micro-coded hardware components, the BIOS (808), the operating system components and the downloaded game software can be trusted.

Abstract: A method for gaming terminals, gaming kiosks and lottery terminals to ensure that the code-signing verification process of downloaded game software can be trusted. Drivers independently developed from the operating system supplier are embedded within the operating system kernel to verify that the micro-coded hardware components, the BIOS, the operating system components and the downloaded game software can be trusted.

Abstract: A trusted disaster tolerant system architecture supporting concurrently a number of distributed online gaming operations such as slip-scan lottery, video lottery, fixed odd betting terminals, internet gaming, and interactive TV. A personality front end resolves the peculiarities of the various client systems before submitting the relevant transactional payload to a trusted transactional cache. A universal game random generator may be used either at the central game server or at each individual gaming machine, thus conferring a significant trust to the entire estate of gaming machines fitted with the game random generator. An auditable trusted log allows to rapidly resolve any dispute. The instant-draw model and the differed-draw model are supported. The system may advantageously be used in casino environments.

Abstract: A universal method and system for downloading game software to ROM based legacy gaming machines, activating selected games and providing new services. The method includes a ROM emulator for replacing the game program image and an NVRAM emulator for swapping the game context and critical meters accordingly. The method includes detection of the state of the current game activity such as to activate a new game only at an authorized time, when no player is playing a game or is carded-in for example. The system includes emulation of the original peripherals fitted to the legacy gaming machine such as to offer extended functionality and services. The universal method and system therefore prolongs the useful life of legacy machines which otherwise would be prematurely retired.

Abstract: A universal method and system for downloading game software to ROM based legacy gaming machines, activating selected games and providing new services. The method includes a ROM emulator for replacing the game program image and an NVRAM emulator for swapping the game context and critical meters accordingly. The method includes detection of the state of the current game activity such as to activate a new game only at an authorized time, when no player is playing a game or is carded-in for example. The system includes emulation of the original peripherals fitted to the legacy gaming machine such as to offer extended functionality and services. The universal method and system therefore prolongs the useful life of legacy machines which otherwise would be prematurely retired.

Abstract: A public access kiosk for conducting trusted lightweight e-commerce transactions. A trusted transactional cache and the associated transactional protocol allow e-commerce transactions to be committed to a remote server extremely quickly and with little network overhead. The end-to-end transactions are completed is just a few seconds allowing users to carry out e-commerce transactions without having to stand in front of the a display for minutes as is usually the case when making purchases on the Internet. The invention operates equally well on robust private networks as on unpredictable Internet or wireless networks, avoiding upsetting shoppers who would otherwise have to wait for the transaction to complete in the case of a temporary communication failure with the remote server or other failure. The methods and devices described herein may advantageously be used to offer large scale and cost-effective micro-payments solutions.