Bitstream Technologies, Inc.

This report has been prepared exclusively for the MGM Grand Hotel, Inc. for Mr. Richard Faircloth and various attorneys working for MGM in regards to the development of proprieteary programs, protocols, hardware and sofware algorithms designed by Bitstream Technologies, Inc. under contract to MGM Grand Hotel, inc.

Scope: The intent of this report is to help determine the date upon which MGM Grand's slot accounting system was capable of printing, reading, accepting and re-distributing cashless tickets by means of imprinting a bar code onto such tickets.

Brief History:


Research: A common practice of ours is to always include a commented modification history at the top of our programs with dates and modifications so that we may refer to them in the future to see what changes have occured. The following in an excerpt of the very first functioning version of code.



#nointerleave                           /* so compiler does not interleave */
//#nodebug                                /* disable debug mode */

/* debug tools */
#define dbugport 1                      /* if def using debugger serial port */
//#define fakestrat 1                     /* if faking stratus mainframe */
//#define romver 1                        /* if compiling for rom */

#define disp 0xA0
#define ledon IRES(PIODA,1);            /* macro to turn on led */
#define ledoff ISET(PIODA,1);           /* macro to turn off led */

/* TUI.C -- Universal Interface Board program for Z-World Tiny Giant */
/* Copyright (C) 1992, 1993, Applied Computer Technology             */
/* Author: Peter Filiberti */
/*

                Revision History

Rev 1.01  5/20/92 Fixed do_sds_pend() incorrect indexing bug.
Rev 1.02  6/04/93 Added check for end_TX in Do_Stratus_Xmt to make sure
                  that previous xmit ended before new one begins.
                  Also remmed out old drop ticket print string and added
                  new one that doesn't display cash amounts.


            Hardware Notes

   PIO pin assignment:
      PIO      function             I/O   P9 short to
      ---      -------------------  ---   -- --------
      A0                                  33
      A1       LED                   O    31
      A2       J1-6 /CLD             I    29
      A3                                  27
      A4                                  25
      A5                                  23
      A6       game/bill SCC Int     I    21
      A7       card/spare SCC Int    I    19
      B0       J4A-1 machine power   I    17  J4A-2 (pullup) = OK
      B1       J4A-3                      15
      B2       J4A-5                      13
      B3       J4A-7 switch polarity I    11  J4A-8 (5V) = invert (short to 7)
      B4       J4B-1 game door       I     9  J4B-2 (GND) = door open
      B5       J4B-3 game removal    I     7  J4B-4 (GND) = game board removed
      B6       J4B-5 drop door       I     5  J4B-6 (GND) = drop door open
      B7       J4B-7 test switch     I     3  J4B-8 (GND) = test mode
*/
/*
   WE NEED TO DECLARE POINTERS USED IN INTERRUPTS AND MAIN CODE 'shared'

As can be see by the above section of program highlighted in blue and titled Revision History, an entry was made on June 5, 1992 repairing a section of the program with the function name do_sds_pend(). This section upon further examination shows that the program at that time was capable of handling pending transactions for cashouts, and jackpots whereas the program would receive a cashout signal from the gaming device, transmit the amount of cashout or handpay to the mainframe computer, and await a command from the mainframe to print a ticket worth a set amount of credits/coins and finally signal the gaming machine after the ticket was printed that the pending state was complete and to continue it's operations as normal. A copy of this complete program is available for further examination by contacting Mr. Richard Faircloth at the MIS Department of MGM Grand Hotel, Inc. in Las Vegas, Nevada.


Photos:


This is a photo of the original prototype unit showing the laser reader from Triad on the right, Display in front, Card reader to the right of the display and Universal Interface Board in the center. The printer was not around for this shot since we gave it back to MGM when our development was finalized.