Post certification metering for diverse game machines
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- transmitting, in real time over a network, first data from a microprocessor controlled gaming machine, the gaming machine comprising a memory and being configured to run game software that cannot be altered once certified, the first data relating to game activity of a game running on the microprocessor controlled gaming machine to be used by an external system to calculate a progressive bonus award, the microprocessor controlled gaming machine further comprising a virtual slot machine interface board, the virtual slot machine interface board comprising a protected process configured to store real time meters in an isolated compartment of the memory; and
after the game software has been certified and installed on the gaming machine;
receiving, at the microprocessor controlled gaming machine and from the external system, second data, in real time over the network, relating to the progressive bonus award;
receiving, at the microprocessor controlled gaming machine and from the external system, a request over the network to create a first meter to track an item; and
responsive to receiving the request from the external system to create the first meter, creating, at the microprocessor controlled gaming machine, the first meter in the virtual slot machine interface board.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Bonuses such as progressive bonuses are based on the activity of many players playing at many machines. The machines may be made by different manufacturers and run different games. Prior diverse arrays of such machines relied on a hardware slot machine interface board (SMIB) that acted as a master and transmitted game activity to remote servers. A disclosed embodiment virtualizes the SMIB. In one implementation, protected processes allow for real time meter creation and destruction within different games, even after the game software has been certified and the hash cannot change.
321 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
transmitting, in real time over a network, first data from a microprocessor controlled gaming machine, the gaming machine comprising a memory and being configured to run game software that cannot be altered once certified, the first data relating to game activity of a game running on the microprocessor controlled gaming machine to be used by an external system to calculate a progressive bonus award, the microprocessor controlled gaming machine further comprising a virtual slot machine interface board, the virtual slot machine interface board comprising a protected process configured to store real time meters in an isolated compartment of the memory; and after the game software has been certified and installed on the gaming machine; receiving, at the microprocessor controlled gaming machine and from the external system, second data, in real time over the network, relating to the progressive bonus award; receiving, at the microprocessor controlled gaming machine and from the external system, a request over the network to create a first meter to track an item; and responsive to receiving the request from the external system to create the first meter, creating, at the microprocessor controlled gaming machine, the first meter in the virtual slot machine interface board. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An apparatus comprising:
a microprocessor controlled gaming machine configured to run game software that cannot be altered once certified, and comprising; a memory; and a virtual slot machine interface board, the virtual slot machine interface board comprising a protected process configured to store real time meters in an isolated compartment of the memory, wherein after the game software has been certified and installed on the microprocessor controlled gaming machine and responsive to the microprocessor controlled gaming machine receiving a request from an external entity to create a first meter to track an item, the first meter is created in the virtual slot machine interface board. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
16. A system comprising:
-
a central server configured to transmit, after game software has been certified and installed on a microprocessor controlled casino gaming machine, a request to the microprocessor controlled casino gaming machine to create a first meter to track an item; and the microprocessor controlled casino gaming machine configured to run game software that cannot be altered once certified, the microprocessor controlled casino gaming machine comprising; a memory; a virtual slot machine interface board configured to be downloadable from and updateable by the central server, the virtual slot machine interface board comprising a protected process configured to store real time meters in an isolated compartment of the memory, wherein responsive to receiving the request from the central server to create the first meter, the first meter is created in the virtual slot machine interface board. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification