Computerized gaming system, method and apparatus

• US 20030224858A1
• Filed: 07/26/2002
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Jackson, Mark D., Martinek, Michael G., Brower, Donald A., DeJournett, John L., Yoseloff, Mark L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,988,559 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof

Abstract

The present invention in various embodiments provides a computerized wagering game method and apparatus that features an operating system kernel, a system handler application that loads and executes gaming program shared objects and features nonvolatile storage that facilitates sharing of information between gaming program objects. The system handler of some embodiments further provides an API library of functions callable from the gaming program objects, and facilitates the use of callback functions on change of data stored in nonvolatile storage. The nonvolatile storage also provides a nonvolatile record of the state of the computerized wagering game, providing protection against loss of the game state due to power loss. The system handler application in various embodiments includes a plurality of device handlers, providing an interface to selected hardware and the ability to monitor hardware-related events.

Claims

1. A computerized wagering game apparatus, comprising:

a computerized game controller having a processor, memory, and nonvolatile storage and is operable to control the computerized wagering game; and

an operating system comprising;

a system handler application operable to dynamically link with at least one gaming program object; and

an operating system kernel that executes the system handler application.

2. The computerized wagering game apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system handler application comprises a plurality of device handlers.

3. The computerized wagering game apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system handler application comprises software having the ability when executed to:

load a gaming program shared object; and

execute the new gaming program shared object.

4. The computerized wagering game apparatus of claim 1, wherein game data modified by the gaming program objects is stored in nonvolatile storage.

5. The computerized wagering game apparatus of claim 4, wherein changing game data in nonvolatile storage causes execution of a corresponding callback function in the system handler application.

6. The computerized wagering game apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computerized game controller comprises an IBM PC-compatible controller.

7. The computerized wagering game apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operating system kernel is a Linux operating system kernel.

8. The computerized wagering game apparatus of claim 7, wherein the Linux operating system kernel is modified.

9. The computerized wagering game apparatus of claim 8, wherein the kernel has at least one modification wherein each modification is selected from the group consisting of:

1) accessing user level code from ROM,

     2) executing from ROM,

     3) zero out unused RAM,

     4) test and/or hash the kernel, and

     5) disabling selected device handlers.

10. The computerized wagering game apparatus of claim 9, wherein the modifications are modular.

11. The computerized wagering game apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system handler application comprises an API with functions callable from the gaming program objects.

12. The computerized wagering game apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system handler further comprises an event queue.

34. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system handler comprises an event queue that determines the order of execution of each specified device handler.

35. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system handler comprises an API having a library of functions.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the event queue is capable of queuing on a first come, first serve basis.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the event queue is capable of queuing using more than one criteria.

38. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the system handler and kernel work in communication to hash the system handler code and operating system kernel code.

13. A method of managing data in a computerized wagering game apparatus via a system handler application, comprising:

loading a shared object,

executing the shared object, and

accessing and storing game data in nonvolatile storage.

14. The method of claim 13, and further comprising the step of unloading the first program object, and further comprising loading a second program object.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising executing a corresponding callback function upon alteration of game data in nonvolatile storage.

16. A computerized wagering game system controlled by a general-purpose computer, comprising an operating system kernel that is customized for gaming use.

17. The computerized wagering game system of claim 16, wherein the kernel is customized in at least one way;

selected from the group;

     1) accessing user level code from ROM,

     2) executing from ROM,

     3) zero out unused RAM,

     4) test and/or hash the kernel, and

     5) disabling selected device handlers.

18. A computerized wagering game system controlled by a general-purpose computer comprising nonvolatile storage that stores game data, such that loss of power does not result in loss of the state of the computerized wagering game system.

19. A gaming machine operating system, comprising a processor and memory and is operable to control the computerized wagering game, wherein the memory contains a plurality of shared objects and a system handler, and the system handler is adapted to execute at least one shared object called from memory.

20. The operating system of claim 19, further comprising nonvolatile storage, wherein game data stored in nonvolatile storage is retained during a gaming machine power down.

21. A machine-readable medium with instructions thereon, the instructions when executed operable to cause a computer to:

load a first program shared object,

execute a first program shared object,

store game data in nonvolatile storage, such that a second program object later loaded can access the data variables in nonvolatile storage,

unload the first program shared object, and

load the second program shared object.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, with further instructions operable when executed to cause a computer to execute a corresponding callback function upon alteration of game data in the nonvolatile storage.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 22, with further instructions operable when executed to cause a computer to manage events via the system handler application.

25. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, wherein only one gaming program object executes at any one time.

26. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, with further instructions operable when executed to cause a computer to provide functions through an API that comprises a part of the system handler application.

24. A machine-readable medium with instructions thereon, the instructions when executed operable to cause a computer to manage at least one gaming program object via a system handler application, such that a single gaming program object is executed at any one time, wherein gaming program objects are operable to share game data in nonvolatile storage.

27. A machine-readable medium with instructions thereon, the instructions when executed are operable to store game data in nonvolatile storage, such that the state of the computerized wagering game system is maintained when the machine loses power.

28. A gaming machine architecture, comprising an operating system, and a plurality of shared objects;

wherein each shared object describes game personality in a selected mode.

29. The gaming machine architecture of claim 28, wherein the operating system comprises an IBM PC-based operating system.

30. The gaming machine architecture of claim 28, wherein the operating system comprises a system handler.

31. The gaming machine architecture of claim 30, wherein the system handler comprises a plurality of device handlers.

32. The gaming machine architecture of claim 30, wherein the system handler comprises an event queue.

33. The gaming machine architecture of claim 30, wherein the system handler comprises a plurality of API callable functions.

39. A universal operating system, comprising a system handler;

and an operating system kernel.

40. The operating system of claim 39, and further comprising a plurality of APIs.

41. The operating system of claim 39, and further comprising an event queue.

42. The operating system of claim 39, wherein the system handler comprises a plurality of device handlers.

43. The operating system of claim 39, wherein the operating system kernel is customized for gaming purposes.

44. The operating system of claim 43, wherein the kernel is customized utilizing a method selected from the group consisting of:

1) Accessing user level code from ROM,

     2) executing from ROM,

     3) zero out unused RAM,

     4) test and/or hash the kernel, and

     5) disabling selected device handlers.

45. The operating system of claim 39, wherein the system is used to control a networked on-line system.

46. The operating system of claim 39, wherein the system is used to control a progressive meter.

47. A method of modifying an operating system kernel, comprising at least one modification to obtain functionality selected from the group consisting of:

1) accessing user level code from ROM;

2) executing user level code from ROM;

3) zeroing out unused RAM;

4) testing and/or hashing the kernel; and

5) disabling selected device handlers.

48. A method of converting a game to operate on a universal gaming system comprising:

removing a game operating system from the game, the game operating system including hardware and software;

installing a universal gaming system in place of the game operating system, the universal gaming system including a game program layer, an open operating system, and a game controller for running the game program layer on the open operating system;

providing functional interfaces between the universal gaming system and game devices; and

installing a game specific program in the game program layer configured to operate with the open operating system.

49. The method of claim 48, comprising:

defining the open operating system to include a system application handler, wherein the functional interface between the gaming system and the game devices is accomplished via the system application handler.

50. The method of claim 49, comprising:

configuring the system handler application to include one or more device handlers for interfacing with the game devices, wherein at least one of the device handlers operates as a protocol manager between the games device and the open operating system.

51. The method of claim 48, comprising:

defining the open operating system to include an operating system kernal the executes the system handler application.

52. The method of claim 48, comprising:

defining the game program layer to include one or more gaming program shared objects.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the gaming program shared objects are specific to the type of game played on the universal gaming system.

54. The method of claim 53, comprising:

changing the type of game played on the universal gaming system by changing the shared objects.

55. The method of claim 48, comprising:

configuring the game program layer to operate the game as a slot machine.

56. The method of claim 55, comprising:

defining the slot machine to be a mechanical reel-based slot machine.

57. The method of claim 48, comprising:

configuring the open operating system to include a resource manager for mapping game specific resources.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein mapping game specific resources includes parsing a configuration file, mapping operating system resources based on the configuration file, and storing the resource map in memory.

59. The method of claim 58, wherein mapping operating system resources based on the configuration file includes mapping input/output lines to system resources.

60. The method of claim 48, comprising converting the game to a cashless gaming system including defining the open operating system to include a system application handler, wherein the functional interface between the gaming system and the game devices is accomplished via the system application handler, and configuring the system handler application to include one or more device handlers for interfacing with the game devices, including installing a card reader device handler;

and installing a card reader in communication with the card reader device handler.

61. The method of claim 60, including configuring the system handler application to include a ticket printer device handler;

and installing a ticket printer in communication with the ticket printer device handler.

62. The method of claim 60, comprising configuring the game program layer to include a cashless gaming feature.

63. A method of converting a mechanical reel slot machine game to operate on a universal gaming system comprising:

removing a slot machine game operating system from the game, the game operating system including hardware and software;

installing a universal gaming system in place of the slot machine game operating system, the universal gaming system including a game program layer, an open operating system, and a game controller for running the game program layer on the open operating system;

providing functional interfaces between the universal gaming system and slot machine game devices; and

installing a game specific program in the game program layer configured to operate with the open operating system.

64. The method of claim 63, comprising:

defining the open operating system to include a system application handler, wherein the functional interface between the gaming system and the slot machine game devices is accomplished via the system application handler.

65. The method of claim 64, comprising:

configuring the system handler application to include one or more device handlers for interfacing with the slot machine game devices, wherein at least one of the device handlers operates as a protocol manager between the slot machine games device and the open operating system.

66. The method of claim 65, comprising:

configuring an I/O device handler to interface with slot machine input devices and slot machine output devices.

67. The method of claim 66, comprising:

defining the slot machine input devices to include a mechanical arm, button acceptor and coin acceptor.

68. The method of claim 66, comprising:

defining the slot machine output devices to include slot machine reels, credit displays, and speakers.

69. The method of claim 65, comprising:

converting the mechanical reel slot machine game to a cashless gaming system via the system handler application, including providing a card reader device handler, and installing a card reader in communication with the card reader device handler.

70. The method of claim 69, comprising:

providing a ticket printer device handler, and installing a ticket printer in communication with the ticket printer device handler.

71. A method of configuring a game program layer for a universal gaming system configured for a game program layer and an open operating system, the method comprising:

configuring the game program layer on a computer remote from the gaming system; and

downloading the game program layer into the universal gaming system.

72. The method of claim 71, comprising:

defining a game template; and

configuring the game program layer using the game template.

73. The method of claim 71, comprising:

storing the game program on a removable media card.

74. The method of claim 73, comprising defining the removable media to be flash memory.

75. The method of claim 73, comprising defining the flash memory to be a CompactFlash card.

76. The method of claim 73, comprising plugging the removable media card into the gaming system, and running the game program layer via the open operating system from the removable media card.

78. The method of claim 76, comprising authenticating the game program layer by plugging the removable media card into an authenticating system.

79. A network based method of configuring a game program layer for a universal gaming system configured for a game program layer and an open operating system, the method comprising:

defining a user interface;

configuring the game program layer via the user interface remote from the gaming system;

defining a controller having a web server;

downloading the game program layer into the controller via a network;

transferring the game program layer to the universal gaming system.

80. The method of claim 79, comprising configuring the game program layer via a web page template at the user interface.

81. The method of claim 79, comprising configuring the controller to be part of the universal gaming system.

82. A gaming system suitable for use in a casino comprising:

a game controller configured to operate the gaming system; and

a first nonvolatile memory and a second nonvolatile memory for storing critical gaming information, wherein the first nonvolatile memory and the second nonvolatile memory are configured to communicate with the game controller as a gaming RAID system for redundant storage of critical gaming information.

83. The system of claim 82, wherein the first nonvolatile memory and the second nonvolatile memory are random access memory.