Architecture for manufacturing authenticatable gaming systems

• US 20050129238A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Ling Tony, Multerer, Boyd C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,496,202 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/259
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/33 using certificates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user

Abstract

An architecture is described to manufacture console-based gaming systems in a manner that allows them to be authenticated to a remote entity for online participation. The architecture involves placing pre-established secrets on the game console during console manufacturing that may be subsequently used to guarantee the authenticity of the game console during registration time.

Claims

1. A game console, comprising:

a network port for connection to a communication network;

a memory;

a symmetric key stored in the memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory and configured to retrieve the symmetric key from the memory and transmit at least one of (1) the symmetric key or (2) proof of knowledge of the symmetric key via the network port to an authentication entity that uses the symmetric key to authenticate the game console.

2. A game console as recited in claim 1, wherein the symmetric key is randomly generated for the game console.

3. A game console as recited in claim 1, further comprising a console ID stored in memory;

4. A game console, comprising;

a network port for connection to a communications network;

a memory;

a private key and a verifiable certificate stored in the memory, the verifiable certificate containing a public key that corresponds to the private key; and

a processor coupled to the memory and configured to transmit the verifiable certificate and proof of knowledge of the private key via the network port to an authentication entity that uses the verifiable certificate and the proof to authenticate the game console.