Configurable hot-swap communication

(54) CONFIGURABLE HOT-SWAP COMMUNICATION

(75) Inventors: Khanh Trang Nguyen, Carson, NV (US); James W. Stockdale, Clio, CA (US)

(73) Assignee: IGT, Reno, NV (US)

(*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 556 days.

(21) Appl. No.: 09/618,365

(22) Filed: Jul. 18, 2000

(51) Int. CT.

G06F13/00 (2006.01)

(52) U.S. CI 710/302; 710/301; 710/303;

710/304; 463/42

(58) Field of Classification Search 710/110,

710/107, 64, 200, 72, 301-304; 463/42, 463/43, 16, 46; 709/200, 223 See application file for complete search history.

(56) References Cited

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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.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets