Management server

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11861990-B2
Application number	US-202017428165-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2020
Priority date	Feb 4, 2019
Publication date	Jan 2, 2024
Grant date	Jan 2, 2024

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a management server which makes it possible to uniformly and rapidly limit the usage of a predetermined currency in a case in which currency handling systems including currency reading devices in each of which a wide variety of currencies are available are used. A slot machine management server 1 and a casino management system 2 manage slot machines 4S including currency handling systems 100 in each of which a wide variety of currencies are available. For example, when a currency used at any one of currency reading devices 201 of slot machines 4S provided in areas A to D is determined as a $100 banknote with limited usage after a center controller 101 of the slot machine management server 1 receives information which limits usage of the $100 banknote in the areas A to D of a map of a gaming facility 15 from an input unit 104, the center controller 101 of the slot machine management server 1 sends a command to the currency reading device 201 through a PTS terminal 700. The command causes a process which discharges a used banknote T ($100 banknote) to be performed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A casino management system comprising:
a casino management server including:
a first controller;
a first non-transitory computer readable storage medium;
a first communications interface;
a first input unit; and,
a first display unit;

at least one of a slot machine management server or a table game management server, each including:
a second controller;
a second non-transitory computer readable storage medium;
a second communications interface;
a second input unit; and, a second display unit;

a plurality of slot machines or a plurality of table games, each including:
a third controller;
a third non-transitory computer readable storage medium;
a third communications interface;
a third input unit; and,
a currency handling system including a PTS terminal and a currency reading device;

wherein, the casino management server, the at least one slot machine management server or the table game server, and the plurality of slot machines or table games are in electronic communication with one another via a respective PTS terminal of each slot machine or table game;
wherein each PTS terminal includes:
a fourth display unit;
an input device;
a card insertion slot;
a smart interface board; and,
a fourth non-transitory computer readable storage medium;

wherein each currency reading device includes:
a fifth controller; a fifth non-transitory computer readable storage medium;
a fifth communications interface; a bank note conveyance mechanism including a plurality of electronic sensors; and,
a banknote accommodation unit,

wherein, the smart interface board of each respective PTS terminal facilitates electronic communication between a respective currency reading device of each slot machine or table game and the third controller of each slot machine or table game, and facilitates electronic communication between a respective slot machine or table game and the slot machine management server and the casino management server;
wherein, the slot machine management server or the table game management server is programmed to issue command instructions to a selected one or more of the plurality of slot machines or a selected one or more of the plurality of table games to only accept and authorize the use of one or more selected banknotes corresponding to one or more selected currencies;
wherein, when the PTS terminal of a respective selected one of the plurality of slot machines or a respective selected one or more of the table games receives the command instructions, the PTS terminal stores the command instructions and displays on a display device of the respective selected one or more slot machines or of the respective one of more gaming tables, or on the fourth display unit of the respective PTS terminal, information pertaining to one or more banknotes or currencies that are not accepted for use by the respective selected one of the plurality of slot machines or the respective selected one or more of the table games;
wherein, when a respective currency reading device of a respective selected slot machine or a respective selected gaming table receives an inserted banknote, the respective currency reading device obtains currency type and currency amount information from the inserted banknote and transmits the currency amount and type information to the respective PTS terminal in communication with the respective currency reading device;
wherein, when the amount and type information of the inserted banknote corresponds to a banknote that is accepted for use, the respective PTS terminal commands the respective currency reading device to accept the inserted banknote, and the respective currency reading device transfers the inserted banknote to the banknote accommodation unit of the respective currency handling device;
wherein, when the amount and type information of the inserted banknote does not correspond to a banknote that is accepted for use, the respective PTS terminal commands the respective currency reading device to discharge the inserted banknote;
wherein the slot machine management server or the table game management server is manually programmed to issue the command instructions to the selected one or more of the plurality of slot machines or the selected one or more of the plurality of table games using information input via a graphical user interface displayed on the second display unit;
wherein the graphical user interface includes a first field allowing the selection and input of one or more of banknotes of various currencies accepted and authorized for use; and
wherein the graphical user interface includes a second field allowing the selection and input of one or more slot machines or table games in one or more designated areas of a casino that can accept and authorize the use of one or more of banknotes of various currencies.

2. The casino management system of claim 1 , wherein the command instructions include exchange rate information pertaining to one or more of the selected currencies accepted and authorized for use.

3. The casino management system of claim 2 , wherein the exchange rate information pertaining to one or more of the selected currencies accepted and authorized for use on the one or more selected slot machines or selected on or more gaming tables is displayed on a display thereof.

4. The casino management system of claim 1 , wherein the information pertaining to the one or more banknotes or currencies that are not accepted for use by the respective selected one of the plurality of slot machines or the respective selected one or more of the table games is stored in the fourth non-transitory computer readable storage medium of the respective PTS terminal thereof.

5. The casino management system of claim 1 , wherein when the respective currency reading device obtains currency type and currency amount information from the inserted banknote and transmits the currency amount and type information to the respective PTS terminal in communication with the respective currency reading device, the respective PTS terminal transmits the currency type and currency amount information to the slot machine management server, which compares the received currency type and currency amount information with the information pertaining to the one or more banknotes or currencies that are accept for use by the respective slot machine or the respective table game.

Assignees

• Universal Entertainment Corp

Inventors

• Haishima Jun

Classifications

• G07F17/34 Primary

  depending on the stopping of moving members {in a mechanical slot machine}, e.g. "fruit" machines · CPC title

• G07D11/22

  Means for sensing or detection · CPC title

• G07F17/3227

  Configuring a gaming machine, e.g. downloading personal settings, selecting working parameters · CPC title

• G07F17/3246

  involving coins and/or banknotes · CPC title

• A63F5/04

  Disc roulettes; Dial roulettes; Teetotums; Dice-tops · CPC title