Apparatus and method for retrofitting candle devices on a gaming machine
AssigneeLeap Forward Gaming
InventorWilliam R. WELLS
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gaming peripheral for a gaming machine is described. The gaming peripheral can be configured to emulate the functions of a lighting device, such as a candle. The gaming peripheral can be configured to provide enhanced gaming features such as 1) enhanced networking capabilities, 2) enhanced peripheral device monitoring and upgrade capabilities, 3) enhanced player monitoring and security capabilities 4) enhanced gaming function capabilities and 5) enhanced player reward capabilities. The enhanced gaming features can be provided in a non-intrusive manner such that regulated software executed on a gaming machine does not have to be altered.
Claims27
A candle device comprising:
- a housing including an attachment interface for mounting the candle device to an external surface of a cabinet of a wager-based gaming machine;
- a plurality of lighting elements disposed within an interior portion of the housing that are externally visible through the housing when activated;
- a wireless communication interface for wirelessly communicating with a remote device;
- a candle controller, including a processor and a memory, configured to:
- 1) receive candle control commands from a game controller disposed within the cabinet and in response control the plurality of lighting elements in accordance with the candle control commands, 2) receive communications from the wager-based gaming machine including transactional data associated with value-input and value output transactions generated on the wager-based gaming machine, encrypt the communications and send the encrypted communications via the wireless communication interface to the remote device, 3) control output of video content to a video display coupled to the wager-based gaming machine wherein the video display is separate from the candle device;
- a secure portion of the housing including one or more anti-tampering mechanisms, said candle controller disposed within the secure portion of the housing.
A method in a candle device including a processor, a memory and a plurality of lighting elements disposed within an interior of a housing wherein the lighting elements are visible through the housing when one or more of the lighting elements are activated, the method comprising;
- establishing communications with a game controller disposed within an interior portion of a cabinet of a wager-based gaming machine wherein the candle device includes a mounting interface for attaching the candle device to a top surface of the cabinet;
- receiving candle control commands from game controller;
- activating the plurality of lighting elements in accordance with the candle control commands;
- generating video content;
- outputting the video content to a video display coupled to the cabinet and separate from the candle device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.