Abstract:
An apparatus for collecting and processing payout vouchers from video slot machines, in which one or more cashier stations are networked to a cage server, which in turn communicates with a vault processor and a slot accounting processor. Software layers provide for tracking point of transaction payout information, accumulating and reporting drop figures from the cashier stations, and pulling data from the vault and cages, auditing the vouchers, reconciling the data, updating files and providing management with reports.

Description:
NOTICE OF MATERIAL SUBJECT TO COPYRIGHT PROTECTION 
     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 any one of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights therein. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention pertains generally to systems and devices for monitoring, collecting and processing casino transactions, and more particularly to a transaction point collecting and processing apparatus for video slot machines which print payout vouchers as opposed to dispensing cash. 
     2. Description of the Background Art 
     It is commonly known to produce Class II type video slot machines in which a winning player receives a printed voucher instead of coins or tokens. It is also known to connect video slot machines and other gaming devices in an installation to a central computer system which can interrogate each machine in the system to gather audit data collected by the machines during their normal course of operation. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,283,709 issued to Lucero et al. on Aug. 11, 1981 a computerized accounting system for slot machines in which each slot machine is connected to a node in a computer network for transferring data. U.S. Pat. No. 4,636,951 issued to Harlick on Jan. 13, 1987. This patent discloses a computer system which is connected to poker machines for transferring accounting information and which can be used for video machines. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In contrast to &#34;on-line&#34; computerized accounting systems which are in current use, the present invention generally comprises a transaction point collection and processing apparatus for video slot machines which is not physically connected to the slot machines. By way of example, and not of limitation, the invention includes one or more cashier or &#34;cage&#34; stations connected to a network and hosted by a cage server, a vault processor, and a slot accounting processor for its hardware layer, and cashier, drop, and slot accounting software layers or modules. Each cashier station generally comprises a personal computer or the like, having a keyboard, a monitor, random access memory, a mass storage device, and a network communications interface. The cage server, vault processor and slot accounting processor are also personal computers or the like having similar hardware configurations as the cashier stations, except that they also include printers. Payout information is accumulated by the cage server from the &#34;point of transaction&#34; cashier stations through the cashier software layer. The drop software layer provides for accumulating and reporting all of the slot machine drop figures from the cashier stations, and the slot accounting software layer provides for pulling data from the vault and cages, auditing the vouchers, reconciling the data, updating files and providing management with reports. 
     An object of the invention is to provide for transaction point collection and processing of printed vouchers representing winnings from video gaming machines. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide casino management and accounting personnel with a tool for handling the abundance of data generated by video gaming machines. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide for an easy flow of information from the cage to the vault to the slot accounting office in a casino. 
     Further objects and advantages of the invention will be brought out in the following portions of the specification, wherein the detailed description is for the purpose of fully disclosing preferred embodiments of the invention without placing limitations thereon. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following drawings which are for illustrative purposes only: 
     FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing the hardware layer of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a cashier station shown in FIG. 1. 
     FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram showing an infrared data collection system in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing the cashier software layer of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram showing the drop software layer of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing the slot accounting software layer of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring more specifically to the drawings, for illustrative purposes the present invention is embodied in FIG. 1 through FIG. 6, where like reference numerals denote like parts. It will be appreciated, however, that the apparatus may vary as to configuration and as to details of the components and functions without departing from the basic concepts as disclosed herein. 
     Referring first to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the hardware layer of a video slot transaction collecting and processing apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises one or more cashier stations 10. Each cashier station 10 generally includes a central processing unit 12 which is operatively coupled to a user interface 14, random access memory 16, a physical storage device 18, and a communications interface 20. Central processing unit 12 is typically a 486- or Pentium-based programmable data processor or the like, with conventional input/output interfaces. User interface 14 is typically a conventional keyboard and video display, providing means for accessing central processing unit 12. Random access memory 16 is typically high speed memory which is used for storing application programs at run time, as well as for storing and manipulating data files. Physical storage device 18 is typically a fixed disk drive or the like, upon which the operating system, application programs, and data files are stored. Communications interface 20 is typically a network communications input/output device, such as an Ethernet® adapter. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other hardware devices could be substituted for those described above, and that cashier station 10 could include other peripheral devices. 
     Each cashier station 10 is hosted by a cage server 22 through network interface 20. The network is preferably connected via either thin coaxial or 10Base-2 twisted pair cable with either BNC or RJ45 connectors. Cage server 22, vault station 24, and slot accounting station 26 generally comprise the same hardware as a cashier station 10, except that they also preferably include a printer. Further, cage server 22 may also include additional network software, processing capability, and memory to support its function as a network server. The invention employs conventional hardware components, as well as conventional network and communications software for the elements described above. 
     As can be seen, cashier stations 10 slave off the cage server 22 where payout information is accumulated at the point of transaction. The vault station 24 accumulates income information; that is, the &#34;drop&#34;. The slot accounting station 26 has access to the cage server 22 and vault station 24 through conventional communications interfaces, but neither the cashier stations 10 nor the vault station 24 have access to the slot accounting station 26 for security reasons, since all income and payout information is audited, reconciled and made permanent by slot accounting station 26 as described below. It will also be appreciated that, while three cashier stations 10 are shown in FIG. 1, the number of cashier stations is not limited to three. 
     An optional feature of the invention is shown in FIG. 3. If desired, an infrared transducer/data interface 28 can be attached to a slot machine 30 to replace the conventional total-in and total-out meters. Each data interface 28 would have a unique identification number that identifies a particular slot machine. At the time of a drop, an infrared microwand 32 is used to read the meters and identification numbers from data interface 28, and to store the data for downloading and reconciliation. The data can be downloaded to a cashier station, vault station or slot accounting station using conventional communications software. 
     Referring also to FIG. 4, the invention includes a cashier software layer or module 34 which runs each cashier station 10. Cashier software layer 34 is executed on cage server 22, where there is one such layer for each cashier station 10. The cashier software layer 34 provides a menu driven user interface which is invoked by a conventional password protected sign-on script. Once cage software layer 34 is accessed in this manner, the menu provides access to four functional sublayers: tickets 36, bank 38, print 40, and manager 42. The tickets sublayer 36 allows the cashier to add up and manually enter vouchers as they are being redeemed by customers at the point of transaction. This sublayer also allows cashiers to lookup all of their transactions since sign-on, modify any errors made during entry, and update the cash balance of their drawer. The bank sublayer 38 allows the cashier to manually enter any cash fills to his or her drawer and automatically update the drawers&#39; balance, as well as to enter any table chips that customers have cashed-in. The print sublayer 40 allows a cashier to acquire either a transaction report or a voucher report. The transaction report is a table listing date and time the cashier signed on the system with the original drawer balance in addition to the date and time any transaction was performed by the cashier with a running drawer balance. The voucher report is a table listing by machine number the number of vouchers and total cash amount for every machine that the particular cashier has paid out. The manager sublayer 42 allows certain cashiers to generate day, swing and graveyard reports for all cashiers and also to perform an end of business day closeout function which gives preliminary reports on the days business while saving critical payout information to be retrieved across the network from the slot accounting station 26. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the data structures used in cashier software layer 34 are Paradox® 4.5 DOS based db tables or the like. All scripts and tables are brought together and then compiled into an executable program using Turbo Pal® or the like as the compiler. Exemplary software for implementing cashier software layer 34 is set forth in Appendix A hereto. The following is a list of major tables manipulated by the cashier software sublayer. 
     
         ______________________________________Cashier.db   this table stores information specific to cashiers, and   contains cashier numbers, names, passwords, transaction   tables and backup transaction tables.Onoflogn.db   where n represents the cashier station, this table contains   dates and times cashiers signed on and off of the &#34;nth&#34;   cashier station.Ticksn.db   where n represents a particular cashier&#39;s number, this table   contains the &#34;nth&#34; cashier&#39;s transaction file. At the close   of the business day, this file is backed up as Tkn.db and   then emptied so that the next time the cashier signs on they   have a fresh transaction table.Shiftn.db   where n represents the station number, this table is   generated whenever a particular cashier requests a voucher   report.Currentn.db   a small table containing the name of the transaction table   being used by the &#34;nth&#34; station.Coyote.db   This table contains machine information.Addn.db This is an input table for entering either cash fills or chips   at the &#34;nth&#34; cashier station.Multkn.db   This table is used to store and process multiple______________________________________   vouchers. 
    
     Referring now to FIG. 5, vault station 24 includes a drop software layer 44 which assists vault personnel counting the drop per machine. Drop software layer 44 can be executed on either vault station 24 or the cage server 22. Drop software layer 44 comprises four functional sublayers: input 46, lookup 48, report 50 and close 52. The input sublayer 46 allows the user to manually input drop currency amounts of ones, twos, fives, tens, twenties, etc. per slot machine, calculate and record totals. The lookup sublayer 48 allows the user to lookup the daily totals per machine. The report sublayer 50 prints a report on machine drop activity for the current days work. The close sublayer 52 saves the day&#39;s drop activity to a file and zeroes out totals for the next days processing. Exemplary software for implementing the drop software layer 44 is set forth in Appendix B. 
     There are two main data objects that are manipulated by the drop software layer 44. 
     
         ______________________________________Dropent.db     An entry table for users to enter amounts and to be     calculated.Droptab.db     The table that dropent.db writes to which provides the     report and permanent days document.______________________________________ 
    
     It will also be appreciated, however, that a conventional currency counting apparatus could be included with the present invention, and that such currency counters include software which will export the count information to an ASCII file or the like. In that event, the drop software layer can be modified to import this information. 
     Referring to FIG. 6, the invention also includes a slot accounting software layer 54 which assimilates the data collected in the cage and vault, verifies the data, reconciles the data, provides critical management reports and helps insure the integrity of the data so eventually the data can be mapped to the casino&#39;s general ledger. Slot accounting software layer 54 comprises the following five functional sublayers: tickets 56, income 58, reconcile 60, output 62 and lookup 64. The tickets sublayer 56 allows the slot accountant to load transaction files across the network from the cashier stations 10, physically audit the payout vouchers, and provide final daily reports on both cashiers and machines payout activity. The income sublayer 58 allows users to load the daily drop file from across the network, manually or electronically via microwand 32, input meter readings and provide a daily drop report. In addition, a significant aspect of this sublayer is that it builds a critical table for the day used for almost all further processing. This file contains daily meter readings, drop, payout and net amount per machine. The file is saved by the user using a naming convention such as &#34;Fileddmm&#34; where dd and mm represent day and month of the year respectively; this, the data collected from the cage and vault and meter readings have been assimilated into one file for reconciliation. The reconcile sublayer 60 allows the slot accountant to load the critical table referred to above into memory along with the previous days meter readings from the master file, perform the various calculations necessary to run a reconciliation and give variances. This sublayer also allows the user to make necessary changes to the master file, update to current meter readings and build and maintain a daily totals file for machine activity in the casino. The output sublayer 62 allows the user to generate four different types of reports. A periodic summary report can be generated for any period of time as requested by the user; this table contains date, total-in, total-out, net and payout percentage for each day requested along with a bottom line representing the total for the requested period. A machine income status report can be generated which gives daily, week to date, month to date, and year to date income and percentages per machine. An analysis report can be generated giving income information by machine type, denomination or by banks of machines. A machine flag report will flag losing machines over a specified period of time. Lastly, the lookup sublayer 64 allows the user to lookup machine income, daily totals or view the machine master file. 
     Exemplary software for implementing the slot accounting software layer 54 is set forth in Appendix C. The following tables are either read or manipulated by the slot accounting software layer 54. 
     
         ______________________________________Askem.db   an input table prompting the user for a specified date for   periodic reports.Bigcyot.db   a data table containing a machine income history for all   machines in the casino.Cashier.db   a table containing cashier information similar to that in the   cashier program.Cashrep.db   a table generated for summarizing daily cashier payout   information.Convert.db   a prompt table asking the user which file they want to load   across the network.Coyote.db   the machine master file containing latest information   regarding machine types, denominations, ID numbers, and   latest known meter readings.Cyotanls.db   a table generated when an analysis is requested by the user.Cyotpcnt.db   the table manipulated when an income status report is   requested.Daily.db   the table generated to be saved as the &#34;Fileddmm&#34;   referred to above under the income sublayer 58.Droprep.db   a table providing a daily drop report.Droptab.db   the final daily drop table.Endshift.db   this table provides a final verified voucher report.Flagrep.db   this table is generated when a flag report is requested.Location.db   table containing information specific to the casino.M&amp;m.db  a &#34;money and meters&#34; table read by the reconcile sublayer   60.Meters.db   a table for entering meter readings.Shiftrep.db   a table generated when printing a voucher report for an   individual cashier.Sumfile.db   a table generated when a periodic summary report is   requested.Tabrep.db   a table containing all reconciliations for all dates machines   were reconciled.Tabup.db   a buffer table used when updating the machine master file.Temprec.db   the table generated when running a reconciliation; this table   is added to Tabrep.db upon updating the master file.Ticksn.db   as with the cashier program, this table is the transaction file   for the cashier whose number is n.Totrep.db   this table contains daily totals for all machines.Type.db a table containing information specific to machine______________________________________   types. 
    
     The apparatus of the invention is typically operated in accordance with the following method at the beginning of a day. After the graveyard shift has run a final closing, daytime cashiers will come on shift and sign-on to the to the system by typing &#34;go&#34; to invoke a simple batch program that launches the cashier software layer 34. The cashier is then prompted for his or her cashier number, password, and beginning drawer balance. If the cashier number and password are valid, cashier software layer 34 executes fully and the cashier simply enters vouchers, fills, chips cashed etc. until the end of the shift. At that time, the cashier signs off and the cashier for the swing shift takes over in similar fashion. Meanwhile the vault crew is usually working early hours in the morning counting the drop from the machines. The operator of the vault station 24 types &#34;drop&#34; to invoke a simple batch program that launches the vault station software layer. The operator inputs all the machine drop figures, gets a report and closes the activity for the day. At the same time, the slot accountant can operate slot accounting station 26, pull data from the vault and cages, audit the vouchers, reconcile the data, update files and provide management with reports. It will be appreciated, however, that different casinos will vary in the method in which the invention is used, and that the exemplary method of operation described above is not a critical aspect of the invention. 
     Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that software can be written in many different ways to implement the functional layers and sublayers described herein. Thus the scope of this invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents. ##SPC1##