Multi-system gaming terminal communication device

A method for using a communication multiplexer device, said method comprising:

• connecting a plurality of communication ports of the communication multiplexer device to a multi-port communication board of the communication multiplexer device, wherein the plurality of communication ports are included within a first set;
• facilitating, by each of the plurality of communication ports of the first set, a communication of a first message between a gaming machine and the communication multiplexer device in one or more application specific protocols used by a master gaming controller of the gaming machine, wherein the gaming machine is used to play a wager-based game;
• accepting, by each of the plurality of communication ports of the first set, a physical communication connection compatible with the one or more application specific protocols;
• determining, by a logic device of the communication multiplexer device, a destination port from among the plurality of communication ports of the first set for the first message received at only one output communication port of a second set of the communication multiplexer device, wherein the first message received at the only one output communication port is formatted using the second communication protocol;
• formatting, by the logic device, the first message received in the second communication protocol into one of the application specific communication protocols that is compatible with the destination port;
• transmitting, by the communication multiplexer device, the first message formatted in one of the application specific protocols via the destination port.

A method of providing communications between a gaming machine and one or more game service servers in a communication device including a plurality of communication ports and only one output communication port in a communication path between the gaming machine and the one or more game service servers, the method comprising:

• configuring the plurality of communication ports to receive information using one or more physical communication protocols compatible with physical connections from the gaming machine to the plurality of communication ports;
• configuring the plurality of communication ports to receive messages in one or more application specific protocols used by the gaming machine;
• mapping the plurality of communication ports to the one or more game service servers;
• establishing communications between the plurality of communication ports of the communication device and the one or more game service servers using a second communication protocol and the only one output communication port;
• receiving a first message at the gaming machine from one of the game service servers via the only one output communication port in the second communication protocol;
• formatting information in the first message into one of the application specific protocols;
• routing the first message to the gaming machine via one of the plurality of communication ports;
• receiving a second message at one of the game service servers from the gaming machine, wherein the second message includes information formatted in one of the application specific protocols;
• formatting the second message in the second communication protocol;
• and
• sending the second message via the only one output communication port.

A gaming machine comprising:

• a master gaming controller configured to control a game played on the gaming machine by executing regulated gaming software and to receive a wager on an outcome of the game;
• a communication multiplexer device comprising:
• a plurality of communication ports connected to a multi-port communication board, where the plurality of communication ports are included within a first set, each of the plurality of communication ports of the first set configured to transmit and receive a set of messages between the gaming machine and the communication multiplexer device in one or more application specific protocols used by the master gaming controller, each of the plurality of communication ports of the first set is configured to accept a physical communication connection compatible with one of the application specific protocols;
• only one output communication port of a second set;
• a logic device configured to:
• determine a destination device for a first message received at one of the plurality of communication ports, wherein the first message is formatted using one of the application specific protocols;
• format the first message in one of the application specific protocols into the second communication protocol;
• transmit the first message formatted in the second communication protocol via the only one output communication port to the destination device.

A gaming machine comprising:

• a master gaming controller configured to control a game played on the gaming machine by executing regulated gaming software and to receive a wager on an outcome of the game;
• a communication multiplexer device comprising:
• a plurality of communication ports connected to a multi-port communication board, wherein the plurality of communication ports are included within a first set, each of the plurality of communication ports of the first set configured to transmit and receive a set of messages between the gaming machine and the communication multiplexer device in one or more application specific protocols used by the master gaming controller, each of the plurality of communication ports of the first set is configured to accept a physical communication connection compatible with one of the application specific protocols;
• only one output communication port of a second set;
• a logic device configured to:
• determine a destination port from among the plurality of communication ports of the first set for a first message received at the only one output communication port, wherein the first message received at the only one output communication port is formatted using the second communication protocol;
• format the first message received in the second communication protocol into one of the application specific communication protocols that is compatible with the destination port;
• and
• transmit the first message formatted in one of the application specific protocols via the destination port