Transcript Document
Best Of Breed (BOB)
Standard
September 20, 2002
G2E 2002 GSA Technical Forum
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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WIRING OPTION 1
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WIRING OPTION 2
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WIRING OPTION 3
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WIRING OPTION 4
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Thank You!
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