WO2001058545A1

WO2001058545A1 - Method of and apparatus for operating a video lottery terminal

Info

Publication number: WO2001058545A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2001/000012
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francois Vermeulen Smit
Original assignee: Francois Vermeulen Smit
Priority date: 2000-02-08
Filing date: 2001-02-08
Publication date: 2001-08-16
Also published as: AU3707601A

Abstract

A video lottery terminal which is monitored using means which is powered independently of the terminal to detect the occurrence, at least, of security events which may compromise the integrity of operation of the terminal. The time and date of occurrence of each detected event are stored and can be accessed via a network connected to a host computer associated with the terminal.

Description

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A VIDEO LOTTERY TERMINAL

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the operation of a video lottery terminal used for playing a game, or for gaming purposes

The video lottery terminal may be intended for use by a single player, i e for single player games or gaming, or it may be part of a multiplayer arrangement which allows a plurality of players to participate in a game or games

As used herein the words "game" and "gaming" are interchangeable and are intended to relate to activities in which one or more players participate irrespective of whether or not there is a monetary reward at stake Notwithstanding the broad possible scope of application of the principles of the invention it is appreciated that, generally, the invention is concerned with gaming activities for monetary awards such as computer-controlled blackjack or similar games, played for monetary gain, by one or more players

Computer-based video gaming machines are subject to strict regulations which inter alia have resulted in the use of electromechanical meters to log certain game events Such meters have to be read on the spot and do not necessarily provide a complete game recovery system in the event of a power failure

Another aspect with existing computer-based gaming systems is that security events such as the opening of a cabinet door may be detected and logged by the computer It is possible though to manipulate the stored data for ulterior purposes SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a method of operating a video lottery terminal which includes the steps of monitoring the terminal to detect the occurrence of each of a plurality of events and storing data relating to events which are detected

The method may include the step of recording information relating to the time and date of the occurrence of each detected event

The data is preferably stored in a permanent manner i e the storage of the data is not dependent on the existence of a continuous power supply or, otherwise put, the non- interruption of a power supply, to a memory device Thus, for example, the data may be stored in non-volatile memory

The terminal may include computing means and the method may include the step of accessing the stored data from the computing means

Alternatively or additionally the data may be accessed from a remote site via the computing means

The data may be displayed at a local site

The method may include the step of categorising the event Events may for example be categorised as security events, status events and game events

Security events may relate to events which when they occur may compromise the integrity of the terminal, such as events which are forbidden or which are permitted only under defined conditions or with authorised personnel. Merely by way of example security events may include printer malfunction, a low back-up battery voltage, a data storage error, communication difficulties or problems between the terminal and a local controller, movement of a door or closure to a cash holding area movement of a closure to the aforementioned computing means, and the like

Status events may reflect the status of each of a number of specified components in or associated with the video lottery terminal and by way of example only may indicate the functionality of a keypad module, a player credit display or a bill acceptor, or indicate that a player button has been pressed, or that communication with a local controller is taking place

Game events may be used primarily to provide a summary of game activities which are electronically metered with validation of information being effected before each fresh game The game events may include one or more of the following total number of games played, total of all credits played, total of all credits won, total of all credits paid, total of all cash in, last and current game credits played, last and current game credits won, last and current game credits paid, last and current game cash in, number of wins

According to a different aspect of the invention there is provided a method of operating a video lottery terminal which is powered by a first power source which includes the step of using control means independently powered by a second power source to monitor the terminal to detect the occurrence of each of a plurality of events irrespective of whether or not power is applied to the terminal.

Thus the control means may be powered by a power source which is independent of the power source used to power the terminal.

Data may be stored, relating to detected events, and may be displayed on site or transferred to computing means embodied in or associated with the terminal

The stored data may be accessed, for example through the said computing means, from a network of any appropriate kind such as a local area network or the Internet.

The time and date of occurrence of each event may be detected and stored.

The invention also extends to a method of operating a video lottery terminal which includes the steps of electronically metering information relating to the occurrence of each of a plurality of events and accessing the metered information from a remote location.

The metered information may relate at least to security and status events.

The time and date of occurrence of each security event, at least, may also be metered or recorded

According to a different aspect of the invention there is provided a method of operating a video lottery terminal which includes the steps of detecting the occurrence of each of a plurality of security events, storing data on each detected security event and on the time and date of occurrence of each security event in non-volatile memory, and permitting such stored data to be accessed from one or more remote points

The invention also extends to apparatus for operating a video lottery terminal which includes means for monitoring the terminal to detect the occurrence of each of a plurality of events and means for storing data relating to events which are detected

The data may be stored in non-volatile memory

The time and date of occurrence of each detected event may also be stored

The apparatus may include means for displaying data which is retrieved from the data storing means

The apparatus may include means for transferring the said stored data to computing means which is incorporated in the terminal thereby to allow the stored data to be accessed from one or more remote locations

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 illustrates in block diagram form a video lottery terminal which includes apparatus according to the invention, and Figure 2 is a representation of a display incorporated in the apparatus of Figure 1 DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates components included in a video lottery terminal which embodies apparatus according to the invention

Figure 1 illustrates a bill acceptor 10, a player station 12 which may be one of a plurality of similar stations, a printer 14, an industrial or host computer 16 eg. a pc which is directly associated with the terminal, a location controller 18, a keypad module 20, a player credit display device 22 and apparatus 24 according to the invention

The apparatus 24 is illustrated in block diagram form and each block is labelled and has the function set out in Table 1

The apparatus 24 is an embedded computer-controlled entity packaged into a single enclosure 54 that provides a plurality of operational capabilities Via the serial interface controller 34 the apparatus provides serial communication interfaces to communicate with the industrial computer 16, the location controller 18, the player credit display 22, the bill acceptor 10, the printer 14 and the keypad module 20 The apparatus further facilitates some aspects of the metering, monitoring and control aspects required by gaming legislation Thus the apparatus provides the ability to detect the occurrence of each of a plurality of events, to time and date stamp each event which occurs and to store data relating thereto The apparatus 24 may operate in a plurality of modes which may include initialise, maintenance and operational or player modes but the present invention is concerned particularly with the last mentioned mode

The micro controller 36 in the apparatus 24 is supported by the watchdog 26 which enables operation to be recovered in case the micro controller hangs A display 56 in the data integrity controller 42 is used to indicate the occurrence of a watchdog reset.

The real-time clock 40 is used to time and date stamp events

The lamp driver 44 is used to drive incandescent lamps 58 which are located in the player buttons The sense circuits 46 detect the activation of sensors such as a plurality of security switches 60 (only one of which is shown) in order to monitor events of the following kind movement (open or close) of a door of a cabinet which houses or provides access to the industrial computer 16, movement (open or close) of a door of a cabinet which houses or provides access to the player station 12, opening or closing of a service door to the terminal, and opening or closing of a cage which holds a card in the industrial computer 16

These events are vital to the integrity of the operation of the terminal, for example if non-monitored physical access is possible to the computer then its operation can be manipulated in a non-detectable way

The meter drivers 48 drive a plurality of externally connected electro-mechanical tally meters 62 which are required by legislation The electro-mechanical meters normally are used to tally the following events on the terminal total number of games played, total of all credits played, total of all credits won, total of all credits paid (value of the pay-outs on the printed receipt), total of all cash in (total value of money in the cash box of the bill acceptor), and total number of jackpots won

Apart from driving the electro-mechanical tally meters the apparatus 24 provides an electronic metering capability in that meter information relating to the following events or activities is stored in the non-volatile memory 32. total number of games played, total of all credits played, total of all credits won, total of all credits paid (value of the pay-outs on the printed receipt), total of all cash in (total value of money in the cash-box of the bill acceptor), last and current game credits played, last and current game credits won, last and current game credits paid last and current game cash in, and jackpot wins (number of wins)

The circuitry 50 senses a player's inputs or responses as reflected in switches 64, key

The data integrity controller 42 provides a data recovery function for the apparatus and hence for the terminal To this end status and security events are monitored and information relating thereto is time and date stamped and recorded in the non-volatile memory 32 Without being limiting security events may include the following printer malfunction, low back-up battery, storage device error, communication error to local controller or industrial computer, removal or installation of bill acceptor stacker, opening or closing of cash door, opening or closing of access door to terminal, and the like

Without being limiting status events may include a communication error to the keypad module or the player credit display failure of the keypad module or the player credit display, failure of the real-time clock, a communication error to the local controller, a service request from the bill acceptor data that the watchdog reset circuit was triggered, player button pressed and the like

Bill acceptor events which may be detected and reported, i e data thereon is stored in the non-volatile memory 32 may include the following a bill was rejected a bill has been jammed, the stacker is full and the bill acceptor cannot accept more bills the bill acceptor has failed, the bill acceptor has been enabled, indicated currency has oeen accepted by the bill acceptor a bill has been returned to a player, and

All significant events, generally of the aforegoing type, which are required for full data recovery of the terminal, may be detected and stored in the non-volatile memory This is under the supervision of the micro controller 36 It is to be noted that the data integrity controller is battery backed up from an independent power source 68 which is continuously recharged so that if necessary data can be retrieved at any stage, even in the event of a complete external power failure

The data stored in the non-volatile memory may be displayed in any appropriate form and for example is displayed in the manner shown in Figure 2 on the display 56 Figure 2 illustrates a liquid crystal display 56 which is under the control of a set of index scroll keys that allow relevant event information to be retrieved from the non-volatile memory In this example electronic metering information is displayed as follows in an uppermost display A a total number of games played and total of all credits played, in a second display B the total of all credits won and total of all credits paid, and in a third display C the total of credits paid and total of all cash in

Although the apparatus 24 permits a local display of all critical information for data recovery all or part of the information may be transferable or transferred to the industrial computer 16 for review The industrial computer may in turn be connected to a local or remote network 70 so that the data may be accessed via the computer 16 from a suitable communications device, eg a computer, at a remote site

The components 10 to 22 of the terminal are powered by an external power supply 66, which may have a standby generator or backup battery (not shown) This however is independent of the power supply to the controller 42 for, as indicated, the data integrity controller is powered from a rechargeable battery 68 which provides the data integrity controller with the capability of performing the function of monitoring and logging specified game and security events when power to the terminal fails or when a primary external power supply to the apparatus 24 fails

The apparatus 24 thus provides full integrity of data relating to critical events which may occur during the playing of a game As indicated electro-mechanical metering systems have been used in the past and although this aspect is not dispensed with in the present invention the apparatus 24 in addition provides an electronic metering capability with non- volatile memory storage Thus the apparatus 24 has the capability of receiving event data which is time and date stamped and of down-loading that data to the industrial computer 16 which can be accessed from any appropriate network Management and control functions are thereby facilitated Another important aspect is that the data integrity controller 42 is directly connected to the security switches 60 employed in the terminal Thus the data integrity controller itself directly detects the actuation of a security switch This situation must be contrasted with the detection of the actuation of a switch via the industrial computer, a technique which lends itself to manipulation It follows that the detection of security events is more reliable and less likely to be manipulated

Claims

1 A method of operating a video lottery terminal which includes the steps of monitoring the terminal to detect the occurrence of each of a plurality of events and storing data relating to events which are detected

2 A method according to claim 1 which includes the step of recording information relating to the time and date of the occurrence of each detected event

3 A method according to claim 1 or 2 which includes the step of storing the data in non-volatile memory

4 A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the video lottery terminal includes computing means and which includes the step of accessing the stored data by at least one of the following (a) directly from the computing means

(b) from a remote site via the computing means

5 A method according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the said events are classified as security events which may compromise the integrity of operation of the terminal, status events which relate to the status of specified components of the terminal and game events which provide a summary of game activities on the terminal

6 A method of operating a video lottery terminal using a first power source and which includes the step of using control means, which is independently powered by means of a second power source, to monitor the terminal to detect the occurrence of each of a plurality of events irrespective of whether or not power is applied to the terminal

A method according to claim 6 wherein data is stored relating to the said events and which includes at least one of the following steps

(a) displaying the data at the terminal,

(b) transferring the data to computing means associated with the terminal, and

(c) accessing the stored data through computing means associated with the terminal from a network connected to the computing means

A method according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the time and date of occurrence of each event are detected and stored

A method of operating a video lottery terminal which includes the steps of electronically metering information relating to the occurrence of each of a plurality of events and accessing the metered information from a remote location

A method according to claim 9 wherein the metered information relates at least to security events which may compromise the integrity of operation of the terminal and which includes the step of recording the time and date of occurrence of each security event

A method of operating a video lottery terminal which includes the steps of detecting the occurrence of each of a plurality of security events, storing data on each detected security event and on the time and date of occurrence of each security event in non-volatile memory, and permitting such stored data to be accessed from one or more remote points

Apparatus for operating a video lottery terminal which includes means for monitoring the terminal to detect the occurrence of each of a plurality of events and means for storing data relating to events which are detected

Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the said data storing means is non-volatile memory

Apparatus according to claim 12 or 13 which includes means for displaying data which is retrieved from the data storing means

Apparatus according to claim 12 13 or 14 which includes means for transferring the said stored data to computing means which is incorporated in the terminal thereby to allow the stored data to be accessed from one or more remote locations