Peer-to-peer gaming system

Abstract

A gaming system is disclosed. The gaming system includes at least two gaming components. Each gaming component includes a controller and a communications interface. The gaming system also includes a communication link to allow the controllers of the gaming components to communicate with other controllers of other gaming components on a peer-to-peer basis through the communication interfaces.

1 . A gaming system, comprising: 
 a hostless communications link;    at least two gaming components, each gaming component comprising: 
 a controller, and  
 a communications interface; and  
   a connector configured to connect each communications interface to the communication link,    the hostless communication link configured to allow a controller of one gaming component to communicate with a controller of another gaming component on a peer-to-peer basis without a master controller to control communications through the communication interfaces.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein one of the at least two gaming components comprises a game processing unit.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two gaming components comprise two gaming components operable to communicate directly with one another without processing or transmitting by a game processing unit.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two gaming components are selected from the group comprised of: a game processing unit, a camera, a printer, a storage device, a coin hopper, a light display, a button panel, a ticket reader, a bill validator, a speaker, a microphone, a card reader, a biometric device, and a keypad.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , the hostless communications link being configured to allow communications between the at least two gaming components without any interaction of a game processing unit.  
   
   
       6 . (canceled)  
   
   
       7 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , the gaming system further comprising a second hostless communications link, wherein the at least two gaming components are arranged in a cabinet and one hostless communications link is used by the gaming components arranged in the cabinet and one hostless communications link is used for communications between the gaming components arranged in the cabinet and a gaming component located outside of the cabinet.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , the hostless communications link further configured to allow gaming components to be added and removed while power is on.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , the hostless communications link further configured to provide power to at least one gaming component.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming system of  claim 1 , the hostless communications link further comprising a link compliant with IEEE 1394.  
   
   
       11 - 16 . (canceled)