WO2001059729A1 - Video lottery terminal operation - Google Patents
Video lottery terminal operation Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2001059729A1 WO2001059729A1 PCT/ZA2001/000011 ZA0100011W WO0159729A1 WO 2001059729 A1 WO2001059729 A1 WO 2001059729A1 ZA 0100011 W ZA0100011 W ZA 0100011W WO 0159729 A1 WO0159729 A1 WO 0159729A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- mode
- video lottery
- lottery terminal
- player
- terminal
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63F—CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- A63F3/00—Board games; Raffle games
- A63F3/08—Raffle games that can be played by a fairly large number of people
- A63F3/081—Raffle games that can be played by a fairly large number of people electric
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
- G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
- G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
- G07F17/32—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for games, toys, sports, or amusements
- G07F17/3286—Type of games
- G07F17/329—Regular and instant lottery, e.g. electronic scratch cards
Definitions
- This invention relates to the operation of a video lottery terminal used for playing a game
- the video lottery terminal may be intended for use by a single player i.e. for single player
- Computer based video gaming machines are subject to strict regulations dealing with the
- the invention provides a method of operating a video lottery terminal which includes the
- the invention may provide that the maintenance mode is selectable only when the video
- lottery terminal is opened ie. accessed, by a service operator. Additionally the
- maintenance mode may only be enabled when a suitable code, for example, a service
- the player station may perform its intended functions by means of which
- the initialisation mode is entered when power is first applied to the player station.
- a plurality of internal functions may be tested during the initialisation mode. For example,
- the player station may be placed
- the player mode also known as an operational mode.
- the maintenance mode can be activated from within the player mode subject
- service operator access codes may be entered or modified. As previously indicated
- data stored within the player station and relating to its operation may be recalled.
- data may for example relate to metering systems used for logging
- the maintenance functions which are akin to a self diagnostic routine, can be carried out
- Network such as a local area network or the Internet
- Figure 1 illustrates in block diagram form a video lottery terminal
- Figure 2 is a player station mode transition diagram
- Figure 3 is a schematic representation of operations carried out during an initialisation
- FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of various maintenance mode functions
- Figure 5 illustrates a sequence of steps to enter a maintenance mode
- Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates components included in a video lottery terminal in
- Figure 1 illustrates a bill acceptor 10, a player station 12 which may be one of a plurality
- a printer 14 an industrial or host computer 16 such as a PC, a location
- controller 18 a key pad module 20, a player credit display device 22, and apparatus 24
- Each block within the apparatus 24 is labelled and has the function shown in Table 1 :
- the apparatus 24 is an embedded computer controlled entity packaged into a single enclosure 54 that provides a plurality of operational functions. Via the serial interface controller 34 the apparatus provides serial communication interfaces to communicate with the industrial computer 16, the location controller 18, the player credit display 22, the bill acceptor 10, the printer 14 and the key pad module 20. The apparatus further facilitates some aspects of the metering, monitoring and control aspects required by gaming legislation. Thus the apparatus provides the ability to detect the occurrence of each of a plurality of events, to time and date stamp each event which occurs and to store data relating thereto.
- the microcontroller 36 is supported by the watchdog 26 which enables operation to be recovered in case the microcontroller hangs.
- a display 56 in the data integrity controller 42 is used to indicate the occurrence of a watchdog reset.
- the lamp driver 44 drives incandescent lamps 58 which are located in the player buttons.
- the sense circuits 46 detect the activation of a plurality of switches 60 (only one of which is shown) which in turn detect the opening or closure of doors such as a door to the industrial computer, to the player station, to the terminal or to a cage which holds a card in the industrial computer.
- the meter drivers 48 drive a plurality of externally connected electromechanical tally meters 62 which are required by legislation and which monitor critical aspects of the game.
- the circuitry 50 senses player's inputs or responses as reflected in switches 64, key pads or the like.
- the data integrity controller 42 provides a data recovery function for the apparatus 24 and hence for the terminal. Status and security events are monitored and information relating thereto is time and date stamped and recorded in the non-volatile memory 32 so that it is available for data recovery.
- the data in the non-volatile memory may be displayed on the display 56 which is a liquid crystal display.
- the industrial computer may be connected to a local or remote network 66 so that data may be accessed from a remote site.
- the terminal is powered from a power source 68 and the apparatus form an independent power source 69.
- the apparatus 24 can operate in a number of modes which are referred to herein as initialisation, maintenance and operational or player modes.
- the present invention is concerned particularly with the initialisation and maintenance modes. Consequently only passing reference is made to the operational or programme modes. It is to be understood however that, with the apparatus in the player mode, a player can play the game to which the video lottery terminal relates and all significant game events are logged by the apparatus 24.
- the apparatus includes the ability of maintaining full integrity of data relating to such critical events and, moreover, meters events, storing the subsequent data in nonvolatile memory storage, for security and recovery purposes. This is the case even if the power supply 68 to the terminal fails, for the apparatus 24 is independently powered by the power source 69.
- Figure 2 is a mode transition diagram of the player station indicating different modes of operation. To a substantial extent the diagram is self-explanatory.
- the player station When power is first applied to the player station the player station is placed in an initialisation mode 70 which is depicted in further detail in Figure 3. If the initialisation is successful the industrial computer 16 is notified that the player station is on-line and normal operational communication is commenced by commanding the player station to the operational mode i.e. the player mode 72.
- the maintenance mode labelled 74 in Figure 2 is entered in the manner illustrated in Figure 5. If the video lottery terminal is opened by a service operator (block 76) it is possible for the operator to access a switch 78 which enables the maintenance mode 74 or the operational mode 72 to be selected.
- the maintenance mode 74 is only enabled when a service operator code 80 e.g. a PIN number, is entered via the key pad module 20. Permissible PIN numbers are stored in the industrial computer 16 and the entered PIN number is validated in a step 82 before the maintenance mode 74 can be entered. All of these steps are logged in the industrial computer and in the apparatus 24.
- a service operator code 80 e.g. a PIN number
- FIG. 3 depicts in further detail various steps in the initialisation mode 70.
- a player station power-on self-test routine (84) is performed. This routine covers the following aspects of the player station :
- Any failure during the routine 84 causes the player station to enter a suspended mode 86 which is under the control of the industrial computer 16. Errors which are detected during the routine 84 are displayed on the display device 56 shown in Figure 1.
- the suspended mode 86 is a temporary state that the player station enters when it encounters a problem or error during the routine 84. Once the problem is resolved or the system is reset the player station leaves the suspended mode and resumes normal operation. It is to be noted that when the suspended mode is entered an appropriate error code linked to an event description is generated and this is logged in the data integrity controller 42.
- the suspended mode is commanded by the industrial computer 16 in response to the status and security events reported to the industrial computer.
- the player station waits for the industrial computer 16 to poll it with a communication initialisation command including a communication integrity test or built in test (BIT).
- a communication integrity test or built in test BIT
- the player station identifies itself and returns the computed result of the integrity test data.
- player station to industrial computer communication is established and verified.
- the player station waits for poll information from the local controller 18. Again communication between the player station and the local controller is established and verified. Thereafter the industrial computer initiates initialisation commands to the printer 14 to test its response and verify the communication channel integrity.
- a similar sequence of operations is carried out to test the response of the key pad module 20 and the player credit display 22 and, in each case, communication channel integrity is verified.
- the industrial computer 16 proceeds on the basis that the player stations are on-line and commences normal operational communication by commanding the player stations to the appropriate mode of operation (90).
- the industrial computer commands a software setup status (92) and the software configurable parameters are down-loaded from the industrial computer to the player station.
- Such parameters may include the items in Table 2 where BA denotes the bill acceptor; RTC the real time clock; PS the player station; LC the local controller; IC the industrial computer; l/F the interface connection between the terminal and the apparatus 24:
- the player station may enter the operational/maintenance
- the present invention is concerned primarily with the initialisation
- FIG 4 illustrates various maintenance mode functions. There are four principal principals:
- serial communication ports can be fitted with loop-
- the option 98 is an event log which provides the capability to upload stored events from
- station event log is also provided but as this is a potentially dangerous option a special password is required at the industrial computer.
- a backup power/recovery mode 100 is entered. This mode is in fact
- a principal benefit of the invention is that it enables all essential aspects of a player station
- aspects include light switches, bill acceptors, the printer, key pad, hard and electronic
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA002399609A CA2399609A1 (en) | 2000-02-08 | 2001-02-08 | Video lottery terminal operation |
AU37075/01A AU780493B2 (en) | 2000-02-08 | 2001-02-08 | Video lottery terminal operation |
EP01909301A EP1254441A1 (en) | 2000-02-08 | 2001-02-08 | Video lottery terminal operation |
MXPA02007668A MXPA02007668A (en) | 2000-02-08 | 2001-02-08 | Video lottery terminal operation. |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ZA200000566 | 2000-02-08 | ||
ZA2000/0566 | 2000-02-08 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2001059729A1 true WO2001059729A1 (en) | 2001-08-16 |
Family
ID=25588607
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/ZA2001/000011 WO2001059729A1 (en) | 2000-02-08 | 2001-02-08 | Video lottery terminal operation |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1254441A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU780493B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2399609A1 (en) |
MX (1) | MXPA02007668A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2001059729A1 (en) |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4763256A (en) * | 1986-09-19 | 1988-08-09 | Williams Electronics Games, Inc. | System to detect and bypass inoperative game features in an amusement device |
US5342047A (en) * | 1992-04-08 | 1994-08-30 | Bally Gaming International, Inc. | Touch screen video gaming machine |
US5836819A (en) * | 1995-05-26 | 1998-11-17 | Kabushiki Kaisha Sankyo | Image display type game apparatus |
US5967514A (en) * | 1992-10-02 | 1999-10-19 | Rlt Acquisitions, Inc. | Multi-player ticket redemption arcade game |
-
2001
- 2001-02-08 CA CA002399609A patent/CA2399609A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-02-08 MX MXPA02007668A patent/MXPA02007668A/en unknown
- 2001-02-08 EP EP01909301A patent/EP1254441A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-02-08 AU AU37075/01A patent/AU780493B2/en not_active Ceased
- 2001-02-08 WO PCT/ZA2001/000011 patent/WO2001059729A1/en active IP Right Grant
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4763256A (en) * | 1986-09-19 | 1988-08-09 | Williams Electronics Games, Inc. | System to detect and bypass inoperative game features in an amusement device |
US5342047A (en) * | 1992-04-08 | 1994-08-30 | Bally Gaming International, Inc. | Touch screen video gaming machine |
US5967514A (en) * | 1992-10-02 | 1999-10-19 | Rlt Acquisitions, Inc. | Multi-player ticket redemption arcade game |
US5836819A (en) * | 1995-05-26 | 1998-11-17 | Kabushiki Kaisha Sankyo | Image display type game apparatus |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU3707501A (en) | 2001-08-20 |
CA2399609A1 (en) | 2001-08-16 |
AU780493B2 (en) | 2005-03-24 |
EP1254441A1 (en) | 2002-11-06 |
MXPA02007668A (en) | 2004-08-23 |
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