| abstract |
The invention provides a method and apparatus for providing peripheral devices that are accessible via the gaming network. The peripheral devices may be accessible to other gaming machines in the network. The peripheral devices may be accessible through the network by an operator or administrator. In one embodiment, an interface device referred to as an IPX (Internet Protocol Exchange) is used to connect the peripheral devices together and to connect them to the gaming network. Any MPU can then communicate with any peripheral on the network. Any peripheral device may send to and receive data from any other device on the network. In another embodiment, the IPX is used for intelligent routing so that legacy devices not originally designed to work within a gaming network may be added to the network. One embodiment uses a protocol such as TWX for routing of data. |