Poker machine communication system

Abstract

A system for controlling the operation of electronically linked gaming machines which enables information to be transferred between machines and from each machine to a control unit. In particular, credits on a machine can be transferred to another machine and the credit state of each machine can be interrogated and adjusted from the central control unit.

I claim:  
     
       1. An apparatus for distributing information to gaming machines for individual game machine control of machine operation depending upon credit available, comprising in combination: 
       a plurality of gaming machines adapted for independent operation with respect to one another;  
       central means for recording and storing credit information;  
       a communication means for individual ones of said plurality of gaming machines and  for transmitting conformation of credit information between said central means  a local means for storing and recording said credit information and said central means;  
       individual ones of said plurality of gaming machines each having a  said local means for recording and storing credit information;  
       each said local means being capable of storing a plurality of credit balances, and of establishing credit, cancelling credit, and transferring credit information to a selected one of said individual ones of said plurality of gaming machines according to instructions from said central means;  
       individual ones of said plurality of gaming machines each having a control means for enabling operation of the respective gaming machine;  
       each said control means having a means for interrogating said local means, said control means selectively enabling operation of said respective gaming machine in response to information received regarding credit;  
       said respective control means enabling operation of said respective gaming machine when a particular credit balance is at least equal to a predetermined amount;  
       said individual ones of said plurality of gaming machines each having respective transmitter means and receiver means for communicating with said communication means;  
       each said respective local means being interrogable and adjustable in response to commands from said central means;  
       said individual ones of said plurality of gaming machines each having respective game cycles; each of said individual ones of said plurality of gaming machines being capable of enabling at least a plurality of gaming cycles without communicating with said central means depending upon the particular credit balance recorded by said respective local means;  
       whereby each of said individual ones of said plurality of gaming machines are operable through a plurality of gaming cycles without interrogating said central means for each gaming cycle;  
       said local means debiting the particular credit balance for each gaming cycle, the amount of debit being a wager; and  
       said local means being capable of transmitting particular credit balances to said central means when interrogated by said central means.  
     
     
       2. The system as claimed in claim  1  wherein a multiplexing unit is located between the central means and the plurality of gaming machines. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim  2  wherein the gaming machines connected to the multiplexing unit are each connected thereto via to a common three wire bus.