Gaming apparatus including an electronic gaming machine and a digital nameplace device

Abstract

A gaming apparatus includes an electronic gaming machine and a digital nameplate device. The electronic gaming machine includes a storage medium for storing a game software that has corresponding game information, a game processor operable to execute the game software, a display module controlled by the game processor to generate game images, and a machine housing for housing the storage medium and the game processor and on which the display module is mounted. The digital nameplate device is mounted on the machine housing, and includes a memory unit, a controller coupled to the memory unit and the game processor, and a nameplate display coupled to the controller. The game processor is configured to control the controller to store the game information in the memory unit. The controller is configured to access the game information stored in the memory unit and to control the nameplate display to display the game information.

1 . A gaming apparatus comprising:
 an electronic gaming machine including
 a storage medium for storing a game software, the game software having corresponding game information, 
 a game processor coupled to said storage medium and operable to execute the game software, 
 a display module coupled to and controlled by said game processor to generate game images, and 
 a machine housing for housing said storage medium and said game processor and on which said display module is mounted; and 
   a digital nameplate device that is mounted on said machine housing of said electronic gaming machine, and that includes a memory unit, a controller coupled to said memory unit and said game processor, and a nameplate display coupled to said controller;   wherein said game processor is configured to retrieve the game information stored in said storage medium and to control said controller to store the game information retrieved by said game processor in said memory unit; and   wherein said controller is configured to access the game information stored in said memory unit and to control said nameplate display to display the game information accessed thereby.   
   
   
       2 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said storage medium includes:
 first program instructions for configuring said game processor to detect electrical connection between said game processor and said controller; and   second program instructions for configuring said game processor to retrieve the game information stored in said storage medium, and to control said controller for storing the game information retrieved by said game processor in said memory unit.   
   
   
       3 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said storage medium further includes:
 third program instructions for configuring said game processor to acquire the game information stored in said memory unit from said controller;   fourth program instructions for configuring said game processor to compare the game information acquired from said controller with the game information stored in said storage medium; and   fifth program instructions for configuring said game processor to control said controller for updating the game information in said memory unit using the game information in said storage medium when the game information acquired from said controller does not match the game information stored in said storage medium.   
   
   
       4 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said third program instructions configure said game processor to automatically acquire the game information stored in said memory unit from said controller, and said fourth program instructions configure said game processor to automatically compare the game information acquired from said controller with the game information stored in said storage medium each time said electronic gaming machine is booted. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said game processor is configured to automatically retrieve the game information stored in said storage medium and to automatically control said controller to store the game information retrieved by said game processor in said memory unit each time said electronic gaming machine is booted. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming apparatus as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said storage medium includes a program instruction set for configuring said game processor to automatically retrieve the game information stored in said storage medium and to automatically control said controller to store the game information retrieved by said game processor in said memory unit each time said electronic gaming machine is booted.