Gaming terminal data monitoring network

A gaming computer system for storing data comprising:

• a gaming terminal having a central processing unit for controlling gaming functions of said gaming terminal;
• a computer;
• a serial communication line connecting said computer and said central processing unit, said serial communication line for transmitting data using a serial communication protocol;
• a server;
• a network using a network communication protocol, said server connected to said network, said computer not being in said network;
• and
• a communication interface having at least one serial port and a network port, said serial port connected to said serial communication line, said network port connected to said network, said communication interface for capturing the data transmitted on said serial communication line and converting the data from said serial communication protocol to said network communication protocol, said communication interface further for transmitting the data in said network communication protocol to said server;
• whereby the data transmitted from said gaming terminal may be stored on both said computer and said server.

A gaming computer system for storing data comprising:

• a gaming terminal having a central processing unit for controlling gaming functions of said gaming terminal;
• a computer;
• a serial communication line connecting said computer and said central processing unit, said serial communication line for transmitting data using a serial communication protocol;
• a server;
• a network using a network communication protocol, said server connected to said network, said computer not being in said network;
• a communication interface having a plurality of serial ports and a network port, said serial ports connected to said serial communication line, one said serial port connected to receive the data from said computer, another said serial port connected to receive the data from said gaming terminal, said network port connected to said network, said communication interface for capturing the data on said serial communication line and converting the data from said serial communication protocol to said network communication protocol, said communication interface further for transmitting the data in said network communication protocol to said server;
• whereby data transmitted from said gaming terminal may be stored on both said computer and said server.

A method of acquiring data, comprising:

• transmitting data between a gaming terminal and a host computer over a communication link, the data being transmitted in a first communication protocol;
• converting the data to a second communication protocol with an interface device coupled to said communication link;
• and
• transmitting the data in said second communication protocol to a server of a network, said host computer not being in said network.