Gaming system monitoring client terminals with hybrid reel assemblies

Abstract

In a thin-client gaming system according to the present invention, a server performs computations for the control over a game on a gaming machine, and hardware thereof including hybrid reel assemblies. Each hybrid reel assembly includes a mechanical reel and electric display devices mounted on the circumferential surface of the reel. The server commands the display devices and motors of the hybrid reel assemblies, and provides image data to the display devices. By using a terminal observer unit, the server estimates the current status of the gaming terminal, and in particular the hybrid reel assemblies. Preferably, when having estimated excessive deviation between the positions of the reels and symbols displayed on the display devices, the terminal observer unit will quickly cause a game process to be stopped and the reels to continuously rotate, and then inform a game system administrator of the error.

1 . A gaming system comprising a gaming terminal and a server configured to communicate with each other,
 the gaming terminal comprising:
 a console unit configured to accept data identifying a game program selected by a player and an instruction from a player to change the status of a game conducted by the selected game program; 
 a plurality of hybrid reel assemblies coaxially arranged and each comprising a mechanical reel, a motor configured to rotate the mechanical reel under the control of the server, and an electric display device mounted on the circumferential surface of the mechanical reel and configured to reproduce an image under the control of the server; and 
 a terminal communications unit configured to transmit a request for a game program selected by a player, an instruction from a player to change game status, and data indicating a current position of the mechanical reel to the server, and receive commands for the motor and the electric display device and image data to be used by the electric display device from the server; and 
   the server comprising:
 a server communications unit configured to receive a request for a game program, an instruction to change game status, and data indicating a current position of the mechanical reel from the gaming terminal, and transmit commands for the motor and the electric display device and image data to be used by the electric display device to the gaming terminal; 
 a memory unit configured to store a plurality of game programs; 
 a game controller unit configured to invoke a game program identified by the request from the memory unit, change game status in response to the instruction, and generate image data to be used by the electric display device depending on the game status; 
 a reel controller unit configured to generate a command for the motor to control the rotation of the mechanical reel depending on the current position thereof; 
 a display controller unit configured to generate a command for the electric display device to control an image to be reproduced thereon depending on the game status; and 
 a terminal observer unit configured to estimate the state of the gaming terminal on the basis of the game status, the command and the image data for the electric display device, the command for the motor, and the current position of the mechanical reel. 
   
   
   
       2 . A gaming system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a monitoring terminal configured to visualize the state of the gaming terminal estimated by the terminal observer unit. 
   
   
       3 . A gaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein the reel controller unit is further configured to control the rotation of the mechanical reel depending on the game status as well as the position of the mechanical reel. 
   
   
       4 . A gaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein the display controller unit is further configured to control an image to be reproduced on the electric display device depending on the position of the mechanical reel as well as the game status. 
   
   
       5 . A gaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein the display controller unit is further configured to turn off or reduce the brightness of a portion of or all of the electric display device that is located in an invisible position. 
   
   
       6 . A gaming system according to  claim 1 , wherein the display controller unit is further configured to cause the electric display device to reproduce a specific image that moves on the circumferential surface of the mechanical reel in the reverse direction of the rotation of the mechanical reel, and thereby cause a player to see the specific image remaining stationary or moving freely independent of the rotation of the mechanical reel.