Patent ID: 8480483

Claim:
A device for installation in a gaming machine, wherein the gaming machine includes a central control unit and a bill validator, and wherein the bill validator is configured to communicate with the central control unit via a data cable connected at one end to a data cable port of the bill validator at its other end to a data cable port of the central control unit, the device including: a body that is configured to be connected by data cables intermediate a bill validator and the central control unit of a gaming machine, the body providing: (i) a first data cable connection port for receiving a first data cable, such that the first data cable is connected at one end to the data cable port on the bill validator and at its other end to the first data cable connection port; and (ii) a second data cable connection port for receiving a second data cable, such that the second data cable is connected at one end to the data cable port of the central control unit and at its other end to the second data cable connection port; a processor that is coupled to the first data connection port and to the second data connection port, thereby to isolate the validator from the central control unit, such that: (i) signals provided by the validator via the first data cable are received by the processor, and selectively provided by the processor to the second data port for transmission to the central control unit via the second data cable; and (ii) signals provided by the central control unit via the second data cable are received by the processor, and selectively provided by the processor to the first data port for transmission to the validator via the first data cable; and a further a communications port coupled to the processor, the further communications port being configured to communicate with one or more components external of the gaming machine; wherein the processor is configured to: (i) pass signals between the first connector port and the second connector port such that those signals are delivered from the validator to the central control unit, or from the central control unit to the validator, via the processor; and (ii) monitor the passed signals, and, based on that monitoring, compile information in response to the passed signals, and communicate the compiled information externally of the terminal via the further communications port.