Gaming Machine Apparatus

Abstract

An electronic gaming machine includes, in an embodiment, an embedded processing module, which is compliant with a Computer-On-Module Express standard, and which includes at least one processor. The electronic gaming machine may further include a network interface controller, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module through a first serial, differential signaling bus, one or more mass storage devices, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module through a second serial, differential signaling bus, and a gaming specific input/output module, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module, to perform gaming machine specific functions.

1 . An electronic gaming machine comprising:
 an embedded processing module, which is compliant with a Computer-On-Module Express standard, and which includes at least one processor;   a network interface controller, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module through a first serial, differential signaling bus;   one or more mass storage devices, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module through a second serial, differential signaling bus; and   a gaming specific input/output (I/O) module, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module, to perform gaming machine specific functions.   
   
   
       2 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first serial, differential signaling bus is configured according to a PCI Express standard. 
   
   
       3 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the network interface controller is to interface with an external network to download game software into the electronic gaming machine. 
   
   
       4 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second serial, differential signaling bus is configured according to a Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) specification, and wherein the one or more mass storage devices include one or more SATA compliant hard disks or flash disks. 
   
   
       5 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more mass storage devices include one or more hard disks or flash disks to store graphics data and audio data. 
   
   
       6 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more mass storage devices include one or more hard disks or flash disks to store game software. 
   
   
       7 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an audio subsystem, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module, which provides for high-definition, multiple channel audio.   
   
   
       8 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an audio subsystem, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module through a serial bus, which is configured according to an Audio Codec '97 specification.   
   
   
       9 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a video subsystem, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module, to provide video output to dual independent displays.   
   
   
       10 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 dual independent displays, operatively coupled to the video subsystem.   
   
   
       11 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a video subsystem, operatively coupled to the embedded processing module through a serial bus, which implements a PCI Express Graphics specification.   
   
   
       12 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a trusted platform module, operatively coupled to the processing module.   
   
   
       13 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more peripheral devices selected from a group of devices that includes a coin validator, a bill validator, a card reader, a coin hopper, and a ticket printer.   
   
   
       14 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more user interfaces selected from a group of user interfaces that includes a button panel, a mechanical slot-machine lever arm, and a touch-screen display device.   
   
   
       15 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a casino-style cabinet, which houses the electronic gaming machine.   
   
   
       16 . The electronic gaming machine of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 gaming software, which when executed by the electronic gaming machine, produces a game selected from a group of games that includes a slot machine, a bingo game, a keno game, a craps game, a roulette wheel, a card game, video poker, blackjack, a game show, a racing game, and a trivia game.