Abstract:
A controller of gaming machines that permit wagering on wagering games includes a first memory location that stores a first time-based schedule of gaming actions to be taken by the gaming machines that are located remote from the controller. A second memory location stores identities of first gaming machines. One of the first and second memory locations stores a pointer that links the other of the first and second memory locations and associates the first gaming machines with the first schedule so that one of the first schedule and first gaming machines can be modified independent of and without modifying the other of the first schedule and the first gaming machines. A data transmitter transmits instructions corresponding to the gaming actions defined by the first schedule to the first gaming machines.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a U.S. National Stage of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2006/033194, filed on Aug. 25, 2006, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/715,754, filed on Sep. 9, 2005, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     COPYRIGHT 
     A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the management and control of gaming machines that support wagering on wagering games, and more particularly to controlling schedules and configurations of remotely reconfigurable gaming machines. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Gaming machines, such as slot machines and video poker machines, have been a cornerstone of the gaming industry for several years. Generally, the popularity of such machines with players is dependent on the likelihood (or perceived likelihood) of winning money at the machine and the intrinsic entertainment value of the machine relative to other available gaming options. Different players, changing popularity of types of games, geographic location of a gaming machine on a casino floor, time of day and day of the week may cause players to be attracted to different types of gaming machines. Shrewd operators consequently strive to monitor the amount of play of different types of gaming machines and manage the availability of different games to attract frequent play and hence increase profitability to the operator. Therefore, there is a continuing need for gaming machine manufacturers to continuously develop new techniques for managing different games and gaming features on remotely reconfigurable gaming machines to maximize frequent play. 
     A centralized gaming controller can cause remote gaming machines to be reconfigured to provide different games and/or variations of games. Such as system permits the operator to easily change a gaming machine (remote terminal) from one game to another as well as varying characteristics of a game. This gives the operator an opportunity to advantageously change the games being offered to the players to maximize play. However, controlling a variety of schedules for a plurality of gaming machines can be cumbersome and prone to implementation errors especially when new schedules or gaming machines are to be added or deleted. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, a controller of gaming machines that permit wagering on wagering games includes a first memory location that stores a first time-based schedule of gaming actions to be taken by the gaming machines that are located remote from the controller. A second memory location stores identities of first gaming machines. One of the first and second memory locations stores a pointer that links the other of the first and second memory locations and associates the first gaming machines with the first schedule so that one of the first schedule and first gaming machines can be modified independent of and without modifying the other of the first schedule and the first gaming machines. A data transmitter transmits instructions corresponding to the gaming actions defined by the first schedule to the first gaming machines. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for controlling gaming machines that permit wagering on wagering games and includes storing in memory time-based schedules, including a first schedule, of gaming actions to be taken by the gaming machines. Identities of first gaming machines are stored in memory. The identities of the first gaming machines are linked with the first schedule so that one of the first schedule and the identities of the first gaming machines can be modified independent of and without modifying the other of the first schedule and the identities of the first gaming machines. Instructions corresponding to the gaming actions defined by the first schedule are transmitted to the first gaming machines. 
     According to yet another aspect of the invention, a computer readable storage medium is encoded with instructions for directing a gaming controller to perform the above method. 
     Additional aspects of the invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below. The use of the same reference numeral in the drawings is utilized to denote identical or similar elements. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a gaming system embodying the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a workstation as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary table representing schedules for gaming machines. 
         FIG. 4  is an exemplary table representing the linking of gaming machines to the schedules. 
         FIG. 5  is an illustrative screen display of a graphical user interface for administering schedules. 
         FIG. 6  is a flow diagram of exemplary steps for creating a schedule. 
         FIG. 7  is a flow diagram of exemplary steps for linking gaming machines and schedules. 
         FIG. 8  is an illustrative screen display of a graphical user interface for depicting icons representing the status of gaming machines. 
         FIG. 9  is a flow diagram of exemplary steps for selecting information about gaming machines to be represented by indicia of icons corresponding with the gaming machines. 
         FIG. 10  is a flow diagram of exemplary steps for obtaining and displaying substantially real-time information about parameters of gaming machines. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various embodiments of this invention can be utilized. The drawings and descriptions of embodiments of the invention exemplify its principles and are not intended to limit the broad aspect of the invention to only the illustrated embodiments. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary gaming system  10  includes a gaming distributor  12  coupled to a central gaming business  14  by communication links  16 . Local gaming facilities  18  are connected by communication links  20  to the central gaming business  14 . As used herein, “gaming” refers to the use of various games that support the placing of wagers on the outcome of the games, e.g. a video poker machine. The gaming distributor  12  may consist of the creator or distributor of games and/or gaming machines, e.g. WMS Industries Inc. The central gaming business  14  may consist of centralized operations for a casino or licensed gaming machine operator. The local gaming facilities  18  may consist of geographically separated locations, i.e. different casinos, all owned or controlled by the same central gaming business. 
     The gaming distributor  12  may include a computer workstation  22  coupled to a nonvolatile memory storage device  24  such as a hard drive. The workstation  22  is also coupled to a server  26  that provides a host for communications over communication channels  28 . The workstation  22  may provide a plurality of functions that serve to support the gaming distributor. In accordance with this illustrative embodiment, one function of the workstation  22  is to provide support for the central gaming business  14 . For example, the workstation  22  may cause an updated version of a software implemented game stored in device  24  to be downloaded by server  26  to the central gaming business  14  for storage and redistribution to the associated gaming machines at its local gaming facilities. 
     A central gaming business  14  includes a workstation  30  supported by data storage element  32  and a server  34  that serves as a communication host with the gaming distributor  12  and communication channels  36  coupled to the local gaming facilities  18 . The server  34  also supports communication with a router  38  that in turn supports wireless communications with the wireless device  40  which may comprise a laptop computer, personal digital assistant, a data enabled cellular telephone, etc. The wireless device  40  permits users, e.g. administrators and operational personnel of the central gaming business, to receive information generated by workstation  30  as well as information concerning the local gaming facilities  18 . It may be utilized to provide data input and instructions to workstation  30 . 
     Each local gaming site  18  includes a server  42  that functions as a host of communications between the subject local gaming facility and the central gaming business  14  and the other local gaming facilities. A router  44  routes communications between the server  40  and other elements including data storage element  46 , gaming machines  48  and a wireless communication link with a wireless device  50 . The data storage element  46  can be utilized to store control information, gaming machine statistics and gaming programs and/or updates to gaming programs. For example, assume that gaming machines  48  at the subject local gaming facility are to be updated with a new version of a game. This new version may have been downloaded from the gaming distributor  12  by the central gaming business  14  and stored in data storage element  32 . At an appropriate time under the control workstation  30 , the new version is downloaded and stored by the data storage element  46  of each local gaming facility that contains a gaming machine  48  to receive the new version. At a convenient time such as determined by router  44 , the new version stored in data element  46  will be downloaded into the memory of the appropriate gaming machines  48 . 
     Alternatively, a new version of the game can be downloaded directly from the central gaming business  14  to the respective gaming machines  48 . The wireless device  50  is similar to the previously described wireless device  40  and preferably supports bidirectional communications. However, in one exemplary embodiment, wireless device  50  is primarily utilized to display status information to gaming system managers concerning the status and utilization of the gaming machines  48  so that the managers are free to roam around the gaming facility. It will be noted that not all of the gaming machines at a particular local gaming facility may be capable of being remotely updated. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that new gaming machines may be designed with sufficient processing and communications ability to be able to be remotely updated and controlled without requiring intermediate processing such as provided by server  42  and router  44 . Of course, a gaming system manager may utilize a personal computer  52  connected to server  42 , or alternatively to router  44 , to display gaming information and provide control instructions for the gaming machines  48  located at the same local gaming facility. 
       FIG. 2  shows workstation  30  in more detail. It includes a microprocessor  60  that is supported by read-only memory (ROM)  62 , random access memory (RAM)  64  and nonvolatile data storage element  66  such as a hard disk. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, ROM  62  stores boot-up control instructions and information for microprocessor  60 , and RAM  64  normally stores application control instructions and data obtained from data storage element  66  and/or ROM  62  associated with the implementation and running of an application program. Input devices  68  such as a keyboard and/or mouse and an output device  70  such as a monitor are typically coupled by corresponding support modules (not shown) to microprocessor  60  enabling a user to provide inputs and observe displayed information. An input/output (I/O) module  72  is coupled to microprocessor  60  and enables bidirectional communications between the microprocessor and external devices thereby allowing the module to transmit instructions to the various gaming machines. The microprocessor and required supporting elements forms a microprocessing unit. 
     Workstation  30 , operating under the control of application software that will be explained in more detail below, supports schedules controlling modifications of the operation of remotely reconfigurable gaming machines wherein the schedules are independent of specific gaming machines to be modified. Being “independent” of specific gaming machines means that a schedule can be created without requiring the identification of specific gaming machines to which the schedule will be applied, and that gaming machines can be added to or canceled from a set of gaming machines to be controlled by a schedule without requiring a change to the schedule itself. This provides a game system manager with increased flexibility and convenience in being able to create and modify schedules. 
     Gaming Machine Scheduling 
       FIG. 3  shows an exemplary table  100  that may be stored in workstation  30  and is representative of schedules for controlling gaming machines with attributes as described above. Exemplary table  100  includes rows  102 ,  104  and  106  and columns  108 ,  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116  and  118  where each row and column intersect to define a value that can be stored in memory by workstation  30 . Each of the rows represents a different schedule that is identified by a schedule number (#) in column  108 . For example, row  102  contains values associated with schedule # 31  including a schedule name and/or description “Recurring Weekday #1” in column  110 , an identification of the type of game “G7” in column  112 , additional parameters  1 -N representing controllable aspects of the game, e.g. coin denomination, maximum number of coins that can be bet, pay table, in columns  114  and  116 , and the date “D” and time “T” during which the schedule is to be in effect in column  118 . These various parameters, functions, revisions or updates to games as well as the game to be played are all referred to herein as “gaming actions”. It will be noted that the identification of the game in column  112  merely represents the type of game to be implemented by the schedule, and does not correspond or identify specific gaming machines to be associated with the schedule. 
       FIG. 4  shows an exemplary table  150  that may be stored in workstation  30  and is representative of a listing of gaming machines associated with the schedules. The table  150  includes rows  152 ,  154  and  156  and columns  160 ,  162 ,  164  and  166  where each row and column intersect to define a value that can be stored in memory by workstation  30 . In this exemplary embodiment, each row identifies a gaming machine or a predetermined group of gaming machines in column  160  with the other columns in the same row identifying schedules to be implemented by the gaming machine. For example, row  152  identifies that gaming machine  23  (GM 23 ) is to operate in accordance with schedules  31  and  14  corresponding to columns  162  and  166 , respectively. It will be apparent that additional schedules can be assigned to a gaming machine by increasing the number of corresponding columns. The value at row  154  and column  160  defines that a predetermined set of like-type of gaming machines (Group  4 ) are to operate under the control of schedules identified with that row. 
     Although table  150  is organized with each row associated with one gaming machine or group of gaming machines, it will be apparent that the table could be based on each schedule with the plurality of gaming machines to be controlled by the schedule being listed as associated with the schedule. Tables  100  and  150  are intended to be merely illustrative of an exemplary implementation. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the information illustrated as being stored in the tables could be stored in memory locations of workstation  30  in other formats, e.g. vectors, records in a database, etc., in order to accomplish the principles as described herein. Values stored in columns  162 - 166  act as pointers (memory address locations) and serve to link the identities of the schedules to be associated with each gaming machine. However, such linkage could also associate with each schedule a set of pointers to gaming machines that are to follow the subject schedule. Because of such linkage, independence between the schedules and the gaming machines provides improved flexibility of creating and modifying schedules and gaming machines subject to the schedules. 
       FIG. 5  shows a screen display of a graphic user interface for creating and modifying schedules as well as identifying gaming machines to be associated with each schedule. A left window portion  202  includes a list  204  of selectable “Schedule Options” and a list  206  of selectable “Upcoming Schedule List” in which appears a listing of previously created schedules. A right window portion  208  contains an upper portion  210  containing selectable dates with an inner window  212  showing “June 2005” being open and having a selectable “Today” button available for selection. In line  214  of window portion  208 , the label “Insert a Title for Your Schedule Here” provides a selectable option for the user to establish a name/title for a new schedule. The lines in section  216  of the window portion  208  lists previously created schedules, some of which have been activated as indicated by the dates and times listed in a line below the schedule entries. 
       FIG. 6  illustrates exemplary steps for the creation of a schedule. In step  300  a request is made for the creation of a new schedule. This request can be made by utilizing the GUI of  FIG. 5  whereby the user selects “Add a Schedule”. In accord with step  302  the user enters a name or label for the new schedule such as by typing in a name in an indicated input area on the screen. This corresponds to the information of column  110  of  FIG. 3 . In step  304  the user identifies the type of gaming machines to be associated with the schedule; see column  112  of  FIG. 3 . For example, a type of gaming machine may consist of a particular type of video poker gaming machine. In step  306  the user enters, or is prompted to enter, additional parameters to be set for the selected type of gaming machine; see columns  114 - 116  of  FIG. 3 . In step  308  the user enters or identifies a date/time during which the schedule will be active; see column  118  of  FIG. 3 . A determination is made by the computer program as to whether all required fields have been completed by the user in step  310 . A NO determination by step  310  results in the user being prompted to enter any uncompleted fields, and following the entry of any uncompleted fields, the process returns to the input of step  310  to again check for the completion of all fields required for a new schedule. The YES determination by step  310  results in actions by step  314  in which a unique schedule number is assigned by the computer program to the entered schedule. Then, the new or update schedule is saved to memory and the GUI is updated to reflect the availability of a new schedule. This process terminates at END  316 . In an exemplary embodiment, these steps are supported by software running on workstation  30 . 
     Although the above process was explained with regard to the entry of a new schedule, a similar process is utilized for the modification of an existing schedule in which an existing schedule is selected by the user for modification followed by some or all of the fields in the schedule being modified by the user. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates steps by which a gaming machine (or a label identifying a predetermined group of gaming machines) is identified to be associated with a schedule. In step  350  the user enters or identifies the gaming machine be associated with one or more schedules. For example, the user may be provided by the application software with a prompt to type in the identity of gaming machine. Alternatively, user may be allowed to select a previously known gaming machine such as by highlighting one gaming machine from a presented list of gaming machines, or identifying a gaming machine by clicking on an icon associated with the desired gaming machine. In step  352  a schedule is identified to be linked to the identified gaming machine. The schedule can be identified by the user based on the assigned schedule number or the name of the schedule. Similarly, the user may be offered the opportunity to type in the specific information or allowed to select the schedule from a listing of schedules or icons representing schedules. A determination is made in step  354  of whether more schedules are to be entered. For example, such a query may be displayed for answer by the user. A YES determination my step  354  returns processing to step  352  for the entry of additional schedule to be associated with the selected gaming machine. A NO determination by step  354  results in step  356  saving the new or updated linkage of gaming machines and schedules to memory, and then updating the GUI reflect the corresponding schedule and gaming machine associations. In an exemplary embodiment, these steps are implemented by software running on workstation  30 . This process terminates at END  358 . 
     Although the above process was explained with regard to the association of one or more schedules with a gaming machine, a similar process can be utilized for the modification of an existing association of gaming machines and schedules in which an existing association is selected from modification by the user. Alternatively, game machine behaviors/configurations can be created/modified by using drag and drop GUI techniques with visual objects corresponding to existing, pre-configured game machine behaviors/configurations being dragged and dropped onto the icon of the game machine to be modified. 
     The execution of the schedules can vary as to implementation. Assuming that the schedules and gaming machine associations with the schedules are stored in workstation  30  at the central gaming business  14 , workstation  30  can periodically compare the current date and time with the dates and times stored with each schedule. The “date” may be a day of the month, e.g. June 23, or a day of the week, e.g. Thursday. A short time before a schedule is to be implemented, the workstation  30  can download directly to each gaming machine or to local storage  46  at each local gaming facility the game, game revision or modifications of parameters of an existing game for implementation on the gaming machines that are the subject of the schedule. The actual implementation of the scheduled actions by the gaming machine can be initiated by a signal transmitted from workstation  30  to the corresponding gaming machines or router  44 , or can be self initiated by at the local gaming facility by the router or each gaming machine at the scheduled time. 
     Conveying Gaming Machine Status Information 
     In accordance with another embodiment, status information concerning each of a plurality of gaming machines is simultaneously displayed to an operator. In a preferred embodiment a representative two-dimensional top view of a floor of a casino is displayed with the location of each gaming machine on the floor being represented as an icon. Indicia of each icon is automatically updated, preferably in substantially real-time, to reflect the status of information selected by the operator. For example, the operator may desire to see a representation for each gaming machine of the amount of play during the last hour, i.e. the total wagering for each gaming machine during the last hour. Such information displayed on a screen as different indicia for each gaming machine can provide the operator with a quick and convenient overview of the productivity of the gaming machines. This enables the operator to quickly identify gaming machines that may be experiencing an operational problem as well as identifying the types of gaming machines that are experiencing the most play. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , a window  400  is displayed on a screen for viewing by a gaming system operator or gaming management. Although the information to be displayed is preferably collected by workstation  30 , the information may be displayed on the monitor  70  of the workstation or conveyed to the screen of a wireless device  40  or  50 , or to a screen associated with PC  52 . Area  402  displayed within window  400  represents a scaled top view of the floor of the casino. Located on the floor are a plurality of clusters of different geographic configurations of gaming machines represented correspondingly on the screen as clusters  404 ,  406 ,  408 ,  410 ,  412  and  414 . Preferably, different icons are utilized to depict different types of gaming machines. The gaming machines on the floor of the casino can be shown in 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional representations. 
     For purposes of illustration, gaming machines are only illustrated within clusters  404  and  408 . It will be understood that each of the clusters will typically contain icons representative of the corresponding gaming machines located within each cluster. Icons  420 ,  422 ,  424  and  426  represent four corresponding gaming machines, respectively. In the exemplary icon  420 , the icon consists of a top section  421  that identifies the type of gaming machine and a bottom section  423  that can contain different indicia that is representative of information sought by the operator. Assume that the operator desires to see information as to the relative amount of play during the last hour. The icon  420  indicates, by the bottom portion  423  being empty, that the corresponding gaming machine has experienced substantially little play, either little play compared to other similar gaming machines or little absolute play as desired. Icon  422  indicates, by its bottom portion being approximately 50% filled, that the corresponding gaming machine is experiencing average play. Icon  424  indicates, by its bottom portion being approximately 90% filled, that the corresponding gaming machine is experiencing near the highest play. Icon  426  indicates, by its bottom portion being approximately 20% filled, that the corresponding gaming machine in experiencing relative play of about 20% relative to the heaviest played gaming machine. This graphically rendered information provides an operator or a manager with meaningful information that can be readily understood and utilized to make changes if needed. Because this information is displayed to the operator for each of the gaming machines on a floor or designated area at the same time, the operator can immediately identify relative levels of performance of the various gaming machines and initiate corrective action which may be required for substantially under performing gaming machines. 
     It will be understood that various shapes and types of icons as well as indicia associated with each can be utilized. For example, icons of different geometric shapes, styles or colors can be utilized to distinguish different types of gaming machines. Likewise, a variety of different indicia associated with each icon can be utilized to convey the desired information to the operator. For example, various characteristics of indicia such as different levels of filling, shading, crosshatching, colors, size, etc. can be utilized to convey different conditions and parameters. Miniature thumb-nail visual representation icons that differ for each type of game machine can be used to easily distinguish each game machine on the floor including how each is configured for a game theme. Status bars associated with each icon can convey the desired condition and parameters of the represented game machine. The information to be visually conveyed, e.g. machine state, win/loss outcomes, spinning reels, physical sensor indicators, communication status, etc., can be collected and displayed in substantially real-time if desired. 
     Two or more different types of characteristics of indicia can be concurrently displayed on a single icon in order to simultaneously represent two or more corresponding types of information. For example, the amount of play experienced by a gaming machine does not automatically equate to the amount of profit being generated by the gaming machine. A gaming machine with a relatively low coin denomination that experiences relatively heavy play may yield a profit that is less than a gaming machine with a high coin denomination that is experiencing only average play. Hence, an operator may desire to simultaneously observe for at least a group of gaming machines (and hence each corresponding icons) the amount of game play and the relative profit being yielded for a unit of time. Such a desire can be accommodated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention by utilizing two different types of indicia displayed simultaneously with an icon. This is illustrated by icons  428 ,  430  and  432 . For example, the amount of game play is represented by the size of a circle in the bottom section  436  of these icons. A continuous range of values of parameters being monitored (amount of game play) is represented by corresponding sizes of circles in the bottom portion of each icon, with a small circle or dot in icon  428  representing a very small value, the intermediate size circle in icon  430  representing an intermediate value and the large circle substantially filling the bottom of icon  432  representing a large or maximum value of game play. Simultaneously, the top section  434  of each of these icons contains variable indicia that represents the profit being yielded by each corresponding gaming machine, e.g. no shading lines in icon  428  indicating very low or no profit being yielded, the moderate amount of shading lines in icon  430  indicating moderate profit being yielded and the heavy amount of shading lines in icon  432  indicating large or maximum profit being yielded. Of course, various other characteristics of indicia could be used to represent a continuous range of parameters being monitored, e.g. the color of an icon can be varied to over a spectrum of colors ranging from darker colors (black, dark blue, etc.) representing low parameter values, and more brilliant colors (red, yellow, etc.) representing higher values. Thus, the operator can simultaneously observe and easily understand two or more parameters for each gaming machine based on different types of indicia displayed with or on an icon. Preferably, a key identifying the parameters represented by each type of indicia is simultaneously displayed on the window with the icons, or alternatively is made available to be displayed to the operator if desired. Alternatively, each icon could be configured to automatically bring a pop-up inner window or data on the screen containing the desired information (or more detailed data) about the associated game machine upon a mouse pointer being hovered over the corresponding icon. Further, an icon representing a game machine or an area of game machines could “shake” (move among a plurality of adjacent screen locations) periodically or continuously in order to alert the user that attention is required if collected data associated with the game machine of the icon does or does not meet predetermined values. Also, game machines or groups of game machines of the same theme can be utilized as described above or combined with other existing floor performance systems into one integrated interface. 
       FIG. 9  shows exemplary steps associated with determining which parameters/functions are to be displayed as information utilizing indicia of icons representing the gaming machines. In step  450 , input identifying parameters/functions to be displayed for each gaming machine is obtained. This may comprise an operator selecting from a list of parameters and functions for which information can be monitored. In step  452  a determination is made of whether other information is to be simultaneously displayed, i.e. whether different types of indicia for the same icon will be utilized. A YES determination by step  452  returns processing to step  450  which collects information concerning the additional parameter/function to be monitored. A NO determination by step  452  results in termination of the process at END  454 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , exemplary steps are illustrated for monitoring gaming machines and updating indicia on corresponding icons to reflect current information with regard to parameters and functions being monitored. In step  470  the parameters and/or functions to be monitored are determined as well as the gaming machines which are to be monitored. The parameters and functions to be measured and the gaming machines to be monitored as obtained in step  450  of  FIG. 9  are preferably stored in memory and can be retrieved. In accordance with step  472 , a gaming machine to be monitored is polled for relevant information. In a preferred embodiment, workstation  30  is utilized as a primary element in implementing the steps of  FIGS. 9 and 10 , and hence workstation  30  transmits queries to the respective gaming machines which respond with the relevant requested information. In step  474  a determination is made if the current polled information is different from the previously stored information, i.e. is the previously stored value different from the currently returned value from the gaming machine for the same corresponding parameter/function? A NO determination by step  474  causes step  476  to continue to the next gaming machine being monitored. This causes the process to return to the input of step  472  in which the next gaming machine in a list of gaming machines is identified to be polled. The YES determination by step  474  results in step  478  updating the stored information corresponding to a parameter/function to be monitored with the current information value for the subject gaming machine. In step  480  the indicia is updated on the icon corresponding to the gaming machine having been updated. This provides the operator viewing the screen with the displayed icon with indicia that automatically updates in substantially real-time without requiring an update request to be entered by the operator. As used herein “substantially real-time” updates refers to the ability to periodically refresh an icon&#39;s indicia at least once a minute and preferably every 30 seconds. Following step  480 , processing returns to the input of step  476 , the action of which has been explained above. It will be noted that the process as described with regard to  FIG. 10  forms an endless loop in which gaming machines are continually polled and the indicia associated with icons corresponding to the gaming machines automatically refreshed. 
     Although workstation  30  is described above as directly querying the gaming machines to obtain the relevant parameter/functions being monitored, those skilled in the art will appreciate an alternative embodiment in which router  44  at the local gaming facility collects the relevant information from the local gaming machines and in turn passes this information to workstation  30 . This embodiment includes the advantage of minimizing traffic on the communication channels since the relevant information for all gaming machines located in a local gaming facility can be collected and returned as a group, i.e. a single transmission, by router  44  to workstation  30 . In still another embodiment, router  44  may include sufficient processing capability and functionality at each local gaming facility to monitor and control the indicia for each icon to be displayed for gaming machines located at the local gaming facility to an operator utilizing PC  52  or wireless device  50 . 
     The attachment appended hereto following the abstract provides additional information about the embodiments described above and further information about the operation and features of the GUI. 
     Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.