Soft count tracking system

Abstract

Apparatus is disclosed systematically to extract data from operating machines of the type used in gaming establishments. Various data is required by management to maximize the operation and the profit potential of a given machine is compiled in the machine itself. The compiled data is serially transferred to a memory device via a one-wire protocol. The memory device writes the data according a defined software routine. The contents of the memory device can be transferred to a computer for subsequent manipulation and display.

Description

[0001]This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 09 / 313,335, filed May 20, 1999, now abandoned, which is a Reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,755, issued May 20, 1997, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.[0002]Notice: More than one reissue application has been filed for the reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,755. The reissue applications are application Ser. No. 10 / 341,317(the present application) and Ser. No. 11 / 166,368, which is divisional reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 5,630,755.<?insert-end id="INS-S-00001" ?>FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the storing data of a validation system and, more particularly, to a detachable system to reliably download data from an operating machine and display the same in usable form.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]The present invention is particularly adapted for use with the validator system of a coin or currency operated gaming devices of the type used in gambling casinos or similarly lar...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005]The inventive memory management system handles a wide range of information functions. These functions are deemed necessary enhancements in the industry and provide a competitive edge over existing methods which, heretofore, are used to access data in the machine. More particularly and according to the inventive system, the enhancements are downstacked from the validator to a Dallas Semiconductor DS1990A Touch Memory Device and the Dallas Semiconductor DS2405 Addressable Switch Device. TheA DS2250, in combination with the inventive software, gives the inventive system a flexible way to access machine performance. According to the inventive method, touch memory data is stored in a binary format. Memory locations of various lengths are assigned as needed for various purposedpurposes.

Problems solved by technology

The problem is that at present neither the machine builders nor their customers have a simple, systematic and reliable way to retrieve the information that a given machine has compiled in its validator.

When more than a few machines are involved (and some casinos have hundreds of machines), such past practice is expensive and error prone.

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