Data transfer sequence in a gaming machine to provide increased security of data

• US 20030045351A1
• Filed: 07/19/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Atronic International GmbH (Gauselmann AG)
• Original Assignee: Atronic International GmbH (Gauselmann AG)
• Inventors: Gauselmann, Paul
• Application Number:
  US10/199,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20030045351A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/10 Control of the course of the game, e.g. start, progess, end
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/45 Controlling the progress of the video game
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/201 Playing authorisation given at platform level
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/206 Game information storage, e.g. cartridges, CD ROM's, DVD's, smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/51 at application loading time, e.g. accepting, rejecting, starting or inhibiting executable software based on integrity or source reliability
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2109 Game systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

A secure first memory contains a boot program and a decryption key. When the gaming device, such as a stand-alone slot machine, is switched on, the boot program is used to download a start program from an external memory into a main memory. The start program contains a decryption algorithm. The start program is then used to download an encrypted gaming program from the external memory. The start program decrypts the gaming program using the code key from the first memory and stores the decrypted gaming program in the main memory. A main processor then carries out the gaming program when a player initiates play of the gaming device. Because of the special sequence of all steps to load the data, an unauthorized person cannot load different or changed programs to any of the memories.

Claims

1. A method performed by a gaming device comprising:

transferring a boot program from a first memory to a second memory;

loading a first program, pursuant to instructions from the boot program, from a third memory into the second memory, the first program including a decryption algorithm, the decryption algorithm using a key from the first memory to decrypt an encrypted gaming program; and

loading the gaming program from the third memory into the second memory, pursuant to instructions from the first program, the gaming program being encrypted when in the third memory, the decryption algorithm decrypting the gaming program using the key from the first memory, the second memory being accessed by a first microprocessor to carry out the game program.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first memory comprises a flash memory or an EEPROM.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the second memory comprises a RAM.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the second memory comprises a voltage supported static RAM.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein transferring the boot program from the first memory to the second memory comprises a second microprocessor controlling transferring the boot program from the first memory to the second memory, wherein loading the gaming program from the third memory into the second memory comprises the first microprocessor controlling loading the gaming program from the third memory into the second memory.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the boot program calculating a checksum of memory locations in the second memory;

the boot program comparing the checksum with a predetermined checksum; and

in case of a mismatch, transferring the boot program from the first memory to the second memory.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising, after the first program is loaded into the second memory, the boot program performing a system reset to start the first program to load the gaming program from the third memory into the second memory.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first program is a start program.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising deleting contents of the second memory if tampering with the second memory is detected.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first memory and second memory are located in a housing having sensors for detecting tampering with the housing, the method further comprising deleting contents of the second memory if tampering with the housing is detected.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the third memory comprises a CD ROM.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first memory, second memory, and first processor are on a printed circuit board, and the third memory is off the printed circuit board.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the printed circuit board is located in a secure housing.

14. A gaming machine for carrying out a gaming routine, the gaming machine comprising:

at least one processor for carrying out the following method;

transferring a boot program from a first memory to a second memory;

loading a first program, pursuant to instructions from the boot program, from a third memory into the second memory, the first program including a decryption algorithm, the decryption algorithm using a key from the first memory to decrypt an encrypted gaming program; and

loading the gaming program from the third memory into the second memory, pursuant to instructions from the first program, the gaming program being encrypted when in the third memory, the decryption algorithm decrypting the gaming program using the key from the first memory, the second memory being accessed by a first microprocessor to carry out the game program.

15. The machine of claim 14 wherein the first memory comprises a flash memory or an EEPROM.

16. The machine of claim 14 wherein the second memory comprises a RAM.

17. The machine of claim 16 wherein the second memory comprises a voltage supported static RAM.

18. The machine of claim 14 wherein transferring the boot program from the first memory to the second memory comprises a second microprocessor controlling transferring the boot program from the first memory to the second memory, wherein loading the gaming program from the third memory into the second memory comprises the first microprocessor controlling loading the gaming program from the third memory into the second memory.

19. The machine of claim 14 wherein the at least one processor further carries out the method comprising:

the boot program calculating a checksum of memory locations in the second memory;

the boot program comparing the checksum with a predetermined checksum; and

in case of a mismatch, transferring the boot program from the first memory to the second memory.

20. The machine of claim 14 wherein the at least one processor further carries out the method comprising:

after the first program is loaded into the second memory, the boot program performing a system reset to start the first program to load the gaming program from the third memory into the second memory.

21. The machine of claim 14 wherein the first program is a start program.

22. The machine of claim 14 further comprising a deletion circuit in communication with the second memory that deletes contents of the second memory if tampering with the second memory is detected.

23. The machine of claim 14 wherein the first memory and second memory are located in a housing having sensors for detecting tampering with the housing, the machine further a deletion circuit in communication with the second memory that deletes contents of the second memory if tampering with the housing is detected.

24. The machine of claim 14 wherein the third memory comprises a CD ROM.

25. The machine of claim 14 wherein the first memory, second memory, and first processor are on a printed circuit board, and the third memory is off the printed circuit board.

26. The machine of claim 25 wherein the printed circuit board is located in a secure housing.