Patent ID: 8251792

Claim:
A wagering game system configured to dynamically assign addresses to button devices connected via a communications bus of the game system, the game system comprising: a central processing unit configured to present a wagering game upon which monetary value can be wagered; at least a first unaddressed button device and a second unaddressed button device, each unaddressed button device connected to the communications bus, wherein an address-in register of the second button device is connected to an address-out register of the first button device via an address signal line, the first button device initially sending a do-not-respond indicator to the second button device via the address signal line; and a button device communication controller communicatively coupled to the central processing unit and configured to: transmit data to a configuration address on the communications bus, the data causing no response from the second button device due to the do-not-respond indicator and causing the first button device to respond in the absence of the do-not-respond indicator; in response to receiving a response from the first button device, assign a first communication address to the first button device, causing the first button device to terminate the do-not-respond indicator; re-transmit data to the configuration address on the communications bus, the data causing no response from the newly-addressed first button device and causing the second button device to respond in the absence of the do-not-respond indicator; in response to receiving a response from the second button device, assign a second communication address to the second button device; and transmit wagering game-related content to at least one of the first and second button devices using the respective communication addresses and transmit game input information from the button devices to the central processing unit.