Gaming system and a gaming peripheral

Abstract

A gaming system including: a network component; a network; a gaming device; and a peripheral device co-located with the gaming device, the peripheral device comprising a first port arranged in data communication with the network component via the network and a second port arranged in direct data communication with the gaming device.

1 . A gaming system comprising:
 a network component;   a network;   a gaming device; and   a peripheral device co-located with the gaming device, the peripheral device comprising a first port arranged in data communication with the network component via the network and a second port arranged in direct data communication with the gaming device.   
   
   
       2 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second port is arranged in direct data communication with the gaming device by being coupled to a main board of the gaming device. 
   
   
       3 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an interface board co-located with the gaming device and wherein the second port is arranged in data communication with the network via the interface board so as to be in data communication with the network component. 
   
   
       4 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device is arranged to communicate at least one status report on both of the first and second ports. 
   
   
       5 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device is arranged to give priority to actions related to one of the first and second ports over actions related to the other of the first and second ports. 
   
   
       6 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device comprises a buffer for buffering communications of at least one of the first and second ports. 
   
   
       7 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of peripheral devices each comprising a first port arranged in data communication with the network component via the network and a second port arranged in direct data communication with the gaming device. 
   
   
       8 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device is adapted to process inserted bank notes. 
   
   
       9 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device is adapted to process inserted tickets. 
   
   
       10 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral device is adapted to print tickets. 
   
   
       11 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first port is a USB port. 
   
   
       12 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the second port is a serial port. 
   
   
       13 . A peripheral device for a gaming system comprising:
 a first port adapted to be placed in data communication with a network component via a network; and   a second port adapted to be placed in direct data communication with a gaming device.   
   
   
       14 . A peripheral device as claimed in  claim 13 , arranged to communicate at least one status report on both of the first and second ports. 
   
   
       15 . A peripheral device as claimed in  claim 13 , arranged to give priority to actions related to one of the first and second ports over actions related to the other of the first and second ports. 
   
   
       16 . A peripheral device as claimed in  claim 13 , comprising a buffer for buffering communications of at least one of the first and second ports. 
   
   
       17 . A peripheral device as claimed in  claim 13 , adapted to process inserted bank notes. 
   
   
       18 . A peripheral device as claimed in  claim 13 , adapted to process inserted tickets. 
   
   
       19 . A peripheral device as claimed in  claim 13 , adapted to print tickets. 
   
   
       20 . A peripheral device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the first port is a USB port. 
   
   
       21 . A peripheral device as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the second port is a serial port. 
   
   
       22 . A kit for retrofitting a gaming machine, the kit comprising:
 a peripheral device comprising:
 a first port adapted to be placed in data communication with a network component via a network; and 
 a second port adapted to be placed in direct data communication with a gaming device; and 
   an interface board adapted to be coupled between the first port and the network.   
   
   
       23 . A kit as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the interface board is adapted to communicate with the first port with a first protocol and the network with a second protocol. 
   
   
       24 . A kit as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the peripheral device is arranged to communicate at least one status report on both of the first and second ports. 
   
   
       25 . A kit as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the peripheral device is arranged to give priority to actions related to one of the first and second ports over actions related to the other of the first and second ports. 
   
   
       26 . A kit as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the peripheral device comprises a buffer for buffering communications of at least one of the first and second ports. 
   
   
       27 . A kit as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the peripheral device is adapted to process inserted bank notes. 
   
   
       28 . A kit as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the peripheral device is adapted to process inserted tickets. 
   
   
       29 . A kit as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the peripheral device is adapted to print tickets. 
   
   
       30 . A kit as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the first port is a USB port. 
   
   
       31 . A kit as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein the second port is a serial port. 
   
   
       32 . A method of retrofitting a gaming machine comprising:
 fitting a peripheral device to the gaming machine, the peripheral device comprising:
 a first port adapted to be placed in data communication with a network component via a network; and 
 a second port adapted to be placed in direct data communication with a gaming device; 
   coupling the first port of the peripheral device to be in data communication with the network component via a network; and   coupling the second port of the peripheral device to the gaming device.   
   
   
       33 . A method as claimed in  claim 32 , further comprising coupling the first port to the network via an interface board. 
   
   
       34 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a peripheral device comprising:
 a first port in data communication with a network component via a network; and 
 a second port in direct data communication with a main board of the gaming machine; and 
   an interface board coupled between the first port and the network.   
   
   
       35 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the second port is arranged in direct data communication with the gaming device by being coupled to the gaming device. 
   
   
       36 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the peripheral device is arranged to communicate at least one status report on both of the first and second ports. 
   
   
       37 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the peripheral device is arranged to give priority to actions related to one of the first and second ports over actions related to the other of the first and second ports. 
   
   
       38 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the peripheral device comprises a buffer for buffering communications of at least one of the first and second ports. 
   
   
       39 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the peripheral device is adapted to process inserted bank notes. 
   
   
       40 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the peripheral device is adapted to process inserted tickets. 
   
   
       41 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the peripheral device is adapted to print tickets. 
   
   
       42 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the first port is a USB port. 
   
   
       43 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 34 , wherein the second port is a serial port.