Transcript Document
Best Of Breed (BOB) Standard September 20, 2002 G2E 2002 GSA Technical Forum 1 OVERVIEW • BOB (Best of Breed) is the next generation communication protocols being developed under the direction of GSA, its members and advisory forums for the gaming industry, by the gaming industry. • The protocols will employ standards and technologies from the computer industry, enabling GSA to use proven technologies, to provide reliable products quickly to the industry at a significant savings to manufacturers, operators and regulators. • The creation, acceptance, implementation, widespread deployment, change management and future technological advancements to GSA’s BOB standard will allow the gaming industry to concentrate on the creation of innovation, appealing gaming products and operations. September 20, 2002 G2E 2002 GSA Technical Forum 2 BOB Charter • The BOB workgroup is charged with identifying and defining the protocol for communication between gaming devices and gaming management systems, as well as providing tools and documentation which assist with the implementation of the protocol. September 20, 2002 G2E 2002 GSA Technical Forum 3 BOB Goals • The workgroup shall focus on using industry standards, including but not limited to TCP, SSL, fully formed XML and other IP protocols for the primary protocol, and physical transport technologies, including but not limited to Ethernet, and other IP transport mechanisms. • In its standards the workgroup will make accommodation, where practical, for other computer industry standards such as streaming audio/video on the physical transport layer. • The workgroup will focus on definition of standardized message schemas related to moving data and the sequence of those messages. • The workgroup will provide recommended implementation guidelines as it relates to the physical transport layer and interface connectors, as appropriate • The workgroup will communicate regularly with the regulatory agencies to cultivate acceptance September 20, 2002 G2E 2002 GSA Technical Forum 4 Computer Technology History • The Computer Industry In 1984 – 8 different companies with 8+ different communication protocols • The Computer Industry Today – Exclusively Ethernet / TCP/IP • Reduced manufacturer and operator costs drastically • Simplified customer operations • Provided customers with CHOICE at lower costs September 20, 2002 G2E 2002 GSA Technical Forum 5 Gaming Industry Today • Serial Cabling – Low Volume • A two lane highway that cannot a handle high volume of traffic • RS232 – Low Speed • Transporting passengers via a Donkey Cart • Proprietary Protocols – Aristocrat (GDAP), Bally (SDS), IGT (SAS), etc. • “Rain Man” as the the passenger, highly intelligent, but difficult to understand September 20, 2002 G2E 2002 GSA Technical Forum 6 Gaming Industry with BOB • Ethernet (Super highway) – Allows for the exchange of more information – Proven reliability “It’s what the world runs on” – Cost effective – Existing standard – “Off the Shelf Technology” • TCP/IP (New and faster car) – High speed transmission – Cost Effective “Off the Shelf Technology” • XML (Universal language) – Event Driven – Cost Effective – Existing Standard – Rapid Development Environment – Open and ExtensibleG2E 2002 GSA Technical Forum September 20, 2002 7 Operator Benefits • Reduced costs and operations – Centralized command and control of the machines • Active games • Accepted denomination(s) • Change hopper limits – Open protocol “for the industry and by the industry” • Expanded product offerings = wider choice = lower end user cost • Increase Revenue – Downloadable games • Audience specific game delivery • Patron specific game delivery • Unprecedented Access to Game Floor Information – Capability to create or customize views of casino floor data • Ability to Independently Innovate – Allows “operator specific” innovations, while remaining compliant with the standard September 20, 2002 G2E 2002 GSA Technical Forum 8 Manufacturer Benefits • Reduced Engineering Time and Production Costs – XML source code widely available, reduces protocol programming efforts by approximately 80% – Larger, less expensive labor pool • Increased Revenue – More focus on game content development – Reduction in overall cost of machine • Off the shelf technology vs. proprietary technology • Open and Extensible – Standards with innovation • Allows “manufacturer specific” innovations, while remaining compliant with the standard September 20, 2002 G2E 2002 GSA Technical Forum 9 Development Phases • Phase 1 – Develop XML protocol with functionality provided by current protocol’s SAS, SDS, etc. – Addition of centralized control and setup • Phase 2 – Downloadable games • Phase 3 – Server based gaming • Intranet and Internet September 20, 2002 G2E 2002 GSA Technical Forum 10 Implementation Phase Benefits • Phased development and implementation approach insures legacy equipment participation • Does not require immediate re-wire of casino – Physical limitations will prevent some BOB functionality i.e. downloadable games will require Ethernet • Allow for co-existence of exiting technology – Different wiring and physical connectivity methods can be mixed on the gaming floor • Provides a growth path to a full implementation September 20, 2002 G2E 2002 GSA Technical Forum 11 WIRING OPTION 1 September 20, 2002 G2E 2002 GSA Technical Forum 12 WIRING OPTION 2 September 20, 2002 G2E 2002 GSA Technical Forum 13 WIRING OPTION 3 September 20, 2002 G2E 2002 GSA Technical Forum 14 WIRING OPTION 4 September 20, 2002 G2E 2002 GSA Technical Forum 15 Thank You! 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