Automated method for servicing electronic gaming machines

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for creating an electronic log for documenting entries into electronic gaming machines on a network. The network is monitored by a network computing device. People who enter the machines carry mobile computing devices that communicate over a normally operating wireless network. Cooperating among the network computing device and the wireless network results in creating an entry that includes the identify of a person entering one of the gaming machines, the identity of the gaming machine entered, and the reason for entry. The entry is stored in an electronic log.

1 . A method for dispatching a person to provide service to one of a plurality of electronic gaming devices on a network of electronic gaming devices, the method comprising:
 defining a plurality of floor areas in the casino, each floor area including a predefined number of electronic gaming machines;   creating a list of the floor areas;   storing the list in a memory connected to the network;   creating a list of persons each having at least one associated floor area and at least one of a plurality of qualifications to service the electronic gaming devices;   storing the person list in a memory connected to the network;   monitoring the network of electronic gaming devices via a network computing device;   detecting a communication on the network indicating that an identified electronic gaming device needs service;   associating at least one of the plurality of qualifications with the required service;   accessing the database via a computer operatively connected to the network;   determining via the computer a person in the person list associated with the floor area including the identified electronic gaming machine and having the associated at least one of the plurality of qualifications with the required service;   generating a call to provide the required service to the identified electronic gaming device;   placing the call in a queue of calls in a memory connected to the network;   associating a priority with each call in the queue as a function of player status;   changing the priority of at least some of the calls in the queue as a function of the length of time the call has been in the queue of calls;   selecting the call to provide the required service in accordance with its priority; and   automatically sending a call signal for the selected call via a wireless network to a mobile computing device carried by the person, the signal including data indicating the identified electronic gaming device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising receiving a call-acceptance signal responsive to an input on the mobile computing device carried by the person indicating that he or she has accepted the selected call. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising receiving a call-arrival signal responsive to an input on the mobile computing device carried by the person indicating that he or she has arrived at the identified electronic gaming machine. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising receiving a call-completion signal responsive to an input on the mobile computing device carried by the person indicating that he or she has provided the needed service. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein some of the calls in the queue of calls have the same priority and wherein selecting the call further comprises selecting the call in first-in-first out order from among the calls with the same priority. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the person is an agent of an operator of the electronic gaming devices. 
     
     
         7 . A method for dispatching a person to provide service to one of a plurality of electronic gaming devices on a network of electronic gaming devices, the method comprising:
 defining a plurality of floor areas in the casino, each floor area including a predefined number of electronic gaming machines;   creating a list of the floor areas;   storing the list in a memory connected to the network;   creating a list of persons each having at least one associated floor area;   storing the person list in a memory connected to the network;   monitoring the network of electronic gaming devices via a network computing device;   determining that an identified electronic gaming device needs service;   determining a person from the person list who is associated with the floor area;   automatically assigning the determined person from to provide the service;   generating a call to provide the service;   automatically sending a call signal via a wireless network to a mobile computing device carried by the assigned person, the signal including data indicating the identified electronic gaming device;   receiving a call-acceptance signal responsive to an input on the mobile computing device carried by the assigned person indicating that he or she has accepted the call; and   determining that the service has been provided.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising receiving a call-arrival signal responsive to an input on the mobile computing device carried by the person indicating that he or she has arrived at the identified electronic gaming machine. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein determining that the service has been provided comprises receiving a call-completion signal responsive to an input on the mobile computing device carried by the person indicating that he or she has provided the needed service. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising:
 determining whether all persons on the person list have uncompleted accepted calls; and 
 if so, placing further calls in a queue of calls. 
 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising:
 associating a priority with each call in the queue of calls as a function of player status; and 
 generating calls from the queue in accordance with the associated priority. 
 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising changing the priority of at least some of the calls in the queue of calls as a function of the length of time the call has been in the queue of calls. 
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer readable medium which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to:
 monitor the network of electronic gaming devices via a network computing device;   detect that an identified electronic gaming device needs service;   access a list of persons each having at least one associated floor area where the electronic gaming devices are located and at least one of a plurality of qualifications to service the electronic gaming devices;   automatically assign a person from the list to provide the service;   generate a call to provide the service;   automatically sending a call signal via a wireless network to a mobile computing device carried by the assigned person, the signal including data indicating the identified electronic gaming device;   receive a call-acceptance signal responsive to an input on the mobile computing device carried by the assigned person indicating that he or she has accepted the call; and   determine that the service has been provided.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to receive a call-arrival signal responsive to an input on the mobile computing device carried by the person indicating that he or she has arrived at the identified electronic gaming machine. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to receive a call-completion signal responsive to an input on the mobile computing device carried by the person indicating that he or she has provided the needed service. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to:
 determine whether all persons on the list have uncompleted accepted calls; and 
 if so, places further calls in a queue of calls. 
 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to:
 associate a priority with each call in the queue of calls as a function of player status; and 
 generate calls from the queue in accordance with the associated priority. 
 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of instructions, which when executed by at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to change the priority of at least some of the calls in the queue of calls as a function of the length of time the call has been in the queue of calls.