Method and apparatus for modifying gaming machines to provide supplemental or modified functionality

An apparatus for modifying the functionality of a legacy gaming device having a legacy I/O device communicating legacy I/O device signals with a legacy gaming device processor via a legacy communication path, comprising:

• a signal interrupting and substitution device, coupled to the legacy communication path to interrupt the legacy I/O device signals and to provide substitute signals therefor;
• and
• a second processor, coupled to the signal interrupting and substitution device, the second processor performing instructions for generating the substitute signals to provide the modified functionality.

An apparatus for modifying the functionality of a legacy gaming device having a legacy gaming device processor, comprising:

• a plurality of legacy I/O devices for providing gaming information to a user and for accepting user input;
• and
• a second processor, communicatively coupled to the plurality of I/O devices via at least one interrupted legacy communication path between the legacy I/O devices and the legacy gaming device processor, the second processor for accepting input from the legacy I/O devices via the at least one interrupted legacy communication path, processing the accepted input, and providing output generated at least in part from the accepted input to the legacy I/O devices.

An apparatus for modifying the functionality of a legacy gaming device having a legacy gaming device processor, comprising:

• a plurality of legacy I/O devices for providing gaming information to a user and for accepting user input;
• and
• means for accepting input from the legacy I/O devices via at least one interrupted legacy communication path between the legacy I/O devices and the legacy gaming device processor, for processing the accepted input, and for providing output generated at least in part from the accepted input to the legacy I/O devices.

An apparatus for modifying the functionality of a legacy gaming device having a legacy gaming device processor, comprising:

• a plurality of legacy I/O devices for providing gaming information to a user and for accepting user input;
• and
• a second processor, communicatively coupled to the plurality of I/O devices via at least one interrupted legacy communication path interrupting legacy I/O device signals, the at least one interrupted legacy communication path being between the legacy I/O devices and the legacy gaming device processor, the second processor performing instructions for generating a substitute signal to provide the modified functionality.

An apparatus for modifying the functionality of a legacy gaming device having a legacy I/O device communicating legacy I/O device signals with a legacy gaming device processor via a legacy communication path, comprising:

• a means for interrupting the legacy I/O device signals and providing substitute signals therefor, the interrupting means coupled to the legacy communication path;
• a means for generating a substitute signals for the legacy I/O device signals to provide the modified functionality, the means for generating the substitute signals coupled to the signal interrupting and substitution means.

A method for modifying the functionality of a legacy gaming device having a legacy I/O device communicating legacy I/O device signals with a legacy gaming device processor via a legacy communication path, comprising:

• interrupting the legacy I/O device signals with a signal interrupting and substitution device coupled to the legacy communication path;
• generating, via a second processor communicatively coupled to the signal interrupting and substitution device, substitute signals for the legacy I/O device signals to provide the modified functionality.