Patent ID: 8133114

Claim:
A method for controlling a sign in a gaming system, the method comprising: operating a sign display in an idle mode, the sign communicatively coupled to a first gaming machine and a second gaming machine; initiating by the first gaming machine a first sign control session, the session having a first priority; receiving sign commands from the first gaming machine; updating the sign display in response to the sign commands; initiating by the second gaming machine a second sign control session for the sign display, the session having a second priority, wherein the first gaming machine and the second gaming machine compete for control of the sign based on the first priority and the second priority; maintaining control of the sign display with the first sign control session in response to determining the first priority is higher than the second priority or switching control to the second sign control session in response to determining the second priority is higher than the first priority; receiving one or more updated progressive meter values from a progressive game controller while the sign display is controlled by at least one of the first gaming machine or the second gaming machine; storing one or more updated progressive meter values; displaying a most recent value of the one or more updated progressive meter values upon returning the sign display to the idle model; and returning the sign display to the idle mode.