Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-03
2001-06-26
Ellis, Christopher P. (Department: 3651)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C700S231000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06253119
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods for managing currency transactions, and in particular, to an inexpensive system for securely distributing and accepting scrip at numerous widely distributed gaming devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recent years have seen a rapid expansion of the gaming industry. Much of the income derived from such games is collected at gaming devices like slot machines and video poker games.
Revenue from such gaming devices can be increased in one of two ways: by increasing the number of transactions or by increasing the average wager per transaction. The number of transactions can be most easily increased simply by increasing the number of available machines. However, increasing the number of gaming devices can be a costly enterprise.
In the past, most gaming machines used coins as a medium of exchange. The machine accepted the wager in coin, and if the player was successful, paid winnings immediately from coin stored in the machine itself. While effective, such coin machines are expensive to maintain. Since the money taken in by the gaming device generally exceeds jackpots paid out, the accumulated money (in coin) must be removed from each machine on a periodic basis. This collection can be difficult, because coins can be heavy and unwieldy.
Recent years have seen a movement away from coin-only machines and a proliferation of gaming machines that also accept currency as a medium of exchange. In fact, currently, 60% or more of gaming machines can accept wagers in currency. Although they represent an improvement from the coin machines of the past, currency-accepting gaming machines have proved to be no panacea Currency acceptors do not obviate the need to pay out winnings in coin. For example, if the player cashes out with $25.50 remaining in the payout account, the gaming device can only issue winnings in coin (in this case, 104 quarters). Since players will often terminate play at such times, the coinage paid out generally exceeds wager coinage entered into the machine, and a cache of coin in the gaming device must be maintained and frequently replenished.
What is needed is an inexpensive system and method for managing currency transactions that eases collection, reduces the risk of theft, does not negatively influence impulse gaming. What is also needed is a system that can manage transactions which must be made in a combination of different mediums of monetary exchange, including cash, coin, and scrip, without requiring extensive modifications of existing gaming machines. The present invention satisfies this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To address the requirements described above, the present invention discloses a method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for dispensing a cashout value to a user in amount of a first monetary exchange and an amount of a second monetary exchange. the method comprises the steps of interrupting a first signal to the first device, wherein the first signal is a signal enabling the first device to dispense the first monetary exchange media; interrupting a second signal to the first device, wherein the second signal is a signal describing a number of first monetary exchange media units to be dispensed; computing a number of second monetary exchange units to be dispensed by the second device and a number of first monetary units to be dispensed by the first device, providing the interrupted first signal and the substituted second signal to the first monetary device, and providing the third signal to the second device. The apparatus comprises means for performing the above steps, and the article of manufacture comprises a storage device tangibly embodying instructions for performing the foregoing method steps.
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patent: WO 94/16781 (1994-08-01), None
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Boyle Bernard W.
Ellis Christopher P.
Gates & Cooper LLP
Tran Khoi H.
LandOfFree
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