Patent ID: 7758428

Claim:
Apparatus for remotely selectively controlling access to a plurality of physical areas of a plurality of gaming machines, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of electrically operable lock mechanisms, each respectively associated with one of the plurality of physical areas of each of the gaming machines; each of said lock mechanisms being physically movable between unlocked and locked conditions with respect to its associated area; control circuitry independent of the gaming machines, said control circuitry including a processor operating under control of a stored program and coupled to each of said lock mechanisms via a communications link for controlling operation thereof; a data storage and retrieval system adapted to communicate with the processor and including a storage medium for storing data including personnel identification data and access authorization data indicative of the gaming machines and the physical areas, if any, of each of the gaming machines for which a person seeking access to the gaming machines is authorized; and a data input device coupled to the processor, said data input device enabling a person to input at least personnel identification data that identifies the person, the processor being operable to compare said personnel identification data inputted by the person with said personnel identification data stored by said storage media that authorizes access by certain, identified personnel to certain designated gaming machines of the plurality of gaming machines and to a plurality, but not all, of said physical areas of said designated gaming machines, and cause the lock mechanisms of the plurality of physical areas to move to the unlocked position to allow access to those plurality of physical areas of the designated gaming machines when the personnel identification data inputted by the person matches any of the personnel identification data stored by said storage medium, wherein at least one of the lock mechanisms includes a solenoid having a plunger, the plunger being moveable between a retracted position when the solenoid is energized to enable a mechanical key to be used to unlock said lock mechanism, and an extended position when the solenoid is de-energized to prevent the mechanical key from being used to unlock said lock mechanism.