Card loading system for a data card unit

Abstract

Disclosed are methods, apparatus, and systems, including computer program products, for transferring data cards between a card loading device and a data card unit of a gaming device. The gaming device has a card mouth adapted to receive and dispense data cards. The card loading device includes a housing, a first card holder adapted to hold one or more data cards having a use designation, and a second card holder adapted to hold one or more data cards having a non-use designation. The card loading device can also include a third card holder adapted to hold one or more of the non-use data cards. The card loading device includes a mating member detachable from the housing. The mating member is adapted to engage the card mouth of the gaming device. The mating member has a mouth adapted to dispense data cards to and receive data cards from the card mouth of the gaming device. The card loading device includes a card transport device operatively coupled to transport the data cards having the use designation from the first card holder to the mouth of the mating member, and to transport the data cards having the non-use designation from the mouth of the mating member to the second card holder. The card loading device includes a data interface configured to communicate with a data interface of the gaming device over a wired or wireless connection.

1 . A method of transferring data cards between a card loading device and a data card unit of a gaming device, the method comprising:
 establishing a communications session between the card loading device and the data card unit;   determining status information for transferring data cards between the card loading device and the data card unit;   providing the determined status information to the card loading device;   synchronizing operation of a card transport device in the card loading device with a card transport device in the data card unit; and   transferring data cards between the card loading device and the data card unit in accordance with the determined status information.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the status information includes one or more status indicators selected from the group consisting of: card holder availability, card holder level, card holder empty, card holder not empty, card holder full, card holder capacity, load status, number of cards dispensed, and number of cards received. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transferring data cards includes transferring data cards from the card loading device to the data card unit. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the transferred data cards have a use designation. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the transferred data cards include a cleaning card. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the transferred data cards include a configuration card. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transferring data cards includes transferring data cards from the data card unit to the card loading device. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the transferred data cards have a non-use designation. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transferring code from the card loading device to the gaming device.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the code includes firmware associated with the gaming device. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the code includes firmware associated with the data card unit. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing a communications session between the data card unit and a card loading device is performed with an optical communications protocol. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein establishing a communications session between the data card unit and a card loading device is performed with an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) communications protocol. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 displaying information including card loading information on a display of the card loading device.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the card loading information includes one or more items selected from the group consisting of: battery level, data interface communications status, data interface signal strength, gaming device ID number, synchronization data, and the determined status information. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing audio output to a speaker of the card loading device, the audio output relating to operation of the card loading device.   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving one or more inputs to control operation of the card transport device.   
   
   
       18 . A card loading device for use with a gaming device under control of a gaming processor, the gaming device operable with a plurality of data cards, the gaming device having a card mouth adapted to receive and dispense ones of the data cards, the card loading device comprising:
 a housing;   a first card holder situated in the housing, the first card holder adapted to hold one or more data cards having a use designation;   a second card holder situated in the housing, the second card holder adapted to hold one or more data cards having a non-use designation;   a mating member detachable from the housing, the mating member adapted to engage the card mouth of the gaming device, the mating member having a mouth adapted to dispense data cards to and receive data cards from the card mouth of the gaming device;   a card transport device situated in the housing, the card transport device operatively coupled to transport the data cards having the use designation from the first card holder to the mouth of the mating member, and to transport the data cards having the non-use designation from the mouth of the mating member to the second card holder, the card transport device coupled to a power supply;   a processor coupled to control the card transport device;   a data interface coupled to the processor, the data interface configured to communicate with a data interface of the gaming device coupled to the gaming processor; and   a display coupled to receive and display information including card loading information provided by the processor.   
   
   
       19 . The card loading device of  claim 18 , wherein the mating member is adapted to mate with the card mouth of the gaming device. 
   
   
       20 . The card loading device of  claim 18 , wherein the data interface of the card loading device is capable of transferring code to the data interface of the gaming device. 
   
   
       21 . The card loading device of  claim 20 , wherein the code includes firmware. 
   
   
       22 . The card loading device of  claim 21 , wherein the firmware is associated with the gaming device. 
   
   
       23 . The card loading device of  claim 18 , wherein the data interface of the card loading device is a wireless interface. 
   
   
       24 . The card loading device of  claim 23 , wherein the data interface of the card loading device is configured to communicate using Infrared Data Association (IrDA) protocol. 
   
   
       25 . The card loading device of  claim 18 , wherein the data interface of the card loading device is a wired interface. 
   
   
       26 . The card loading device of  claim 18 , wherein the display is disposed on a side of the housing opposite the mating member. 
   
   
       27 . The card loading device of  claim 18 , wherein the card loading information includes one or more items selected from the group consisting of: battery level, data interface communications status, data interface signal strength, gaming device ID number, card holder capacity, synchronization data, load status, number of cards dispensed, and number of cards received. 
   
   
       28 . The card loading device of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 an input device operatively coupled to the processor, the input device enabling a user to provide one or more inputs to control operation of the card transport device.   
   
   
       29 . The card loading device of  claim 28 , wherein the input device includes a ‘start’ button. 
   
   
       30 . The card loading device of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a speaker coupled to receive and output audio data provided by the processor.   
   
   
       31 . The card loading device of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a third card holder adapted to hold one or more of the data cards having the non-use designation.