Monitoring and controlling gaming-environments

Abstract

Techniques for monitoring and controlling gaming-environments are disclosed. Techniques can, for example, facilitate installation of one or more games on a plurality of gaming-machines. A gaming monitor/controller can determine whether gaming-machines in a gaming-environment are suitable for or capable of executing a particular game(s). In addition, data can be generated to determine whether a gaming-machine is suitable or capable of executing a game. This data can be displayed, for example, to assist a human operator in determining which new games or updates are more appropriate for a particular gaming-machine or group of gaming-machines. Diagnostic information can also be provided to, for example, assist the human operator in determining whether corrective actions can be taken in order to play a game on a particular machine or combination of machines (e.g., two gaming-machines can be combined together to run a game, or a component can be taken from another gaming-machine in order to run the game).

1 . A computing system for facilitating installation of games on gaming-machines that are suitable or capable of executing said games, said computing system operable to:
 determine whether each one of a plurality of gaming-machines are suitable for or capable of executing one or more games; and   generate data that indicates whether at least one of said plurality of gaming-machines is suitable or capable of executing said one or more games after said determining determines whether said at least one gaming-machine is suitable for or capable of executing said one or more games.   
   
   
       2 . A method for facilitating installation of games on gaming-machines that are suitable or capable of executing said games, said method comprising:
 determining whether each one of a plurality of gaming-machines are suitable for or capable of executing one or more games; and   generating data that indicates whether at least one of said plurality of gaming-machines is suitable or capable of executing said one or more games after said determining determines whether said at least one gaming-machine is suitable for or capable of executing said one or more games.   
   
   
       3 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said method further comprises:
 receiving or identifying said one or more games; and   displaying data that indicates whether at least one of said plurality of gaming-machines is suitable or capable of executing said one or more games.   
   
   
       4 . A method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said method further comprises:
 initiating installation or downloading said one or more games on said at least one of said plurality of gaming-machines after said generating or displaying of data that indicates said at least one gaming-machine is suitable for or capable of executing said one or more games.   
   
   
       5 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said determining of whether each one of said plurality of gaming-machines are suitable for or capable of executing one or more games comprises:
 determining capabilities of said plurality of gaming-machines with respect to at least one gaming-requirement for executing said one or more games; and   determining, based on said capabilities of said plurality of gaming-machines, whether at least one of said plurality of gaming-machines meets or exceeds said gaming-requirement for executing said one or more games.   
   
   
       6 . A method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said determining of capabilities of said plurality of gaming-machines comprises: querying said plurality of gaming-machines for their capabilities with respect to one or more gaming-requirements for executing said one or more games. 
   
   
       7 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said capabilities of said plurality of gaming-machines include one or more of the following:
 hardware capacity, software capacity, gaming regulations, and system-components configured.   
   
   
       8 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said method comprises:
 determining whether a first gaming-machine of said plurality of gaming-machines meets or exceeds a gaming-requirement for executing a first game;   determining whether a second gaming-machine meets or exceeds said gaming-requirement for executing said first game when said determining determines that said first machine does not meet or exceed said first gaming-requirement for executing said first game.   
   
   
       9 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said method further comprises:
 determining whether a first gaming-machine of said plurality of gaming-machines meets or exceeds a gaming-requirement for executing a first game of said one or more games; and   determining whether a combination of said first gaming-machine and a second gaming-machine of said plurality of gaming-machines collectively meet or exceed said gaming-requirement for executing said first game when said determining determines that said first gaming-machine does not meets or exceed said gaming-requirement.   
   
   
       10 . A method as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said method further comprises:
 generating data that indicates said combination of said first and second gaming-machines collectively meet or exceed said gaming-requirement for executing said first game when said determining determines that said combination of said first and second gaming-machine collectively meet or exceed said gaming-requirement for executing a first game.   
   
   
       11 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said method further comprises:
 determining whether a first gaming-machine of said plurality of gaming-machines meets or exceeds a gaming-requirement for executing a first game of said one or more games; and   determining whether a component of a second gaming-machine can be added to said first gaming-machine to enable said first gaming-machine to meet or exceed said gaming requirement when said determining determines that said first gaming-machine does not meet or exceeds said gaming-requirement for executing said first game of said one or more games.   
   
   
       12 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said method further comprises:
 identifying a deficiency associated with at least one gaming-machine with respect to execution of at least one game;   determining whether said deficiency can be corrected by remedial action; and   generation diagnostic-data indicating said remedial action when said determining determines that said deficiency can be corrected by remedial action.   
   
   
       13 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said diagnostic-data indicates that a first gaming-machine that lacks one or more requirements required to execute a first game, can still be operable to execute said first gaming-machine. 
   
   
       14 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said method further comprises:
 simulating said first game, thereby demonstrating how said first game may appear on said first gaming-machine.   
   
   
       15 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said method further comprises:
 suggesting a first gaming-machine for execution a first game when it is determined that a second gaming-machine is not capable of or suitable for executing said first game.   
   
   
       16 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said method further comprises:
 suggesting a first game for execution on a first gaming-machine when it is determined that said first gaming-machine is not capable of or suitable for executing a second game.   
   
   
       17 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said method further comprises one or more of the following:
 searching for games that share a common theme;   searching for games that are suitable for a first gaming-machine;   searching for games that use a particular color theme; and   searching for games based on one or more criteria.   
   
   
       18 . A method as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said method further comprises:
 simulating a first game that has been identified after a search.   
   
   
       19 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said method further comprises:
 suggesting an upgrade to a first gaming-machine or device associated with said first gaming machine to run a first game, after it is determined that said first gaming-machine is not capable of or suitable for executing said first game.   
   
   
       20 . A method as recited in  claim 19 , wherein said upgrade is one or more of the following: a software upgrade, a hardware upgrade, and a license upgrade. 
   
   
       21 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said method further comprises: one or more of the following:
 indicating that a first component from a second gaming-machine can be acquired and configured for said first gaming-machine in order to execute said first game on said first gaming-machine.   
   
   
       22 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said method further comprises: one or more of the following:
 estimating the cost associated with said upgrade;   estimating the benefit associated with said upgrade;   
   
   
       23 . A method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said method further comprises:
 receiving a layout for a plurality of gaming-machines configured for execution of one or more games; and   generating a suggested layout for said layout when one or more gamin-machines of said plurality of gaming-machines are not capable of or suitable of executing one or more games.   
   
   
       24 . A method as recited in  claim 23 , wherein said suggested layout includes one or more of the following:
 at least one suggestion regarding an upgrade to at least one of said plurality of gaming-machines; and   at least one suggestion regarding moving a first gaming-machine of said plurality of gaming-machines.   
   
   
       25 . A computer readable medium including computer program code for facilitating installation of games on gaming-machines that are suitable or capable of executing said games, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:
 computer program code for determining whether each one of a plurality of gaming-machines are suitable for or capable of executing one or more games; and   computer program code for generating data that indicates whether at least one of said plurality of gaming-machines is suitable or capable of executing said one or more games after said determining determines whether said at least one gaming-machine is suitable for or capable of executing said one or more games.