Method and device for implementing a downloadable software delivery system

• US 20060031829A1
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Harris, David, Bolton, Paul W., Wall, Robert Lyle, Moody, William J., Swenson, Charles Glen, Koury, Mitchell William, Amicucci, Phillip Louis
• Granted Patent: US 8,185,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57

Abstract

A method and device implementing a downloadable operatively connected to a plurality of gaming machines either by a direct communications link or through the use of one or more site controllers or PCs. Each gaming machine and site controller or PC contains two executable spaces, one of which typically contains the software image currently being implemented by the device. The other executable space is designated to receive from the central system a new software image that will be utilized by the device. The central system transfers a new image to be executed, via packet encrypted communications, to a networked device which stores the image in an executable space, while continuing to run the currently designated image. Upon instruction from the central system, the device switches over to the new image, allowing one or more machines to implement a software upgrade on a continuous basis.

Claims

1. A gaming machine system comprising:

a central system; and

one or more gaming devices having at least one storage component operable to receive an executable software image, wherein the one or more gaming devices are in communication with the central system;

wherein the gaming device receives the software image from the central system.

2. The gaming machine system as recited in claim 1, wherein the central system includes a user interface for accepting the software image to be downloaded to the one or more gaming devices.

3. The gaming machine system as recited in claim 1, wherein the central system is in communication with the one or more gaming devices via a dedicated, continuous communication network.

4. The gaming machine system as recited in claim 1, wherein the central system is in communication with the one or more gaming devices via a nondedicated communication network.

5. The gaming machine system as recited in claim 1, wherein the central system is remote from at least one of the one or more gaming devices.

6. The gaming machine system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more gaming devices include at least one gaming machine.

7. The gaming machine system as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more gaming devices include at least one site controller or PC.

8. The gaming machine system as recited in claim 1, wherein the at least one storage component of the one or more gaming devices includes a first executable space for storing an image currently being implemented by the gaming device and a second executable space operable to receive the software image to be downloaded.

9. The gaming machine system as recited in claim 8, wherein two or more the executable spaces are flash read only memory.

10. A method in a computer system for implementing a gaming machine system including a central system in communication with one or more gaming devices, the method comprising:

obtaining a software image to be downloaded to the one or more gaming devices; and

downloading the software image to a selected group of the one or more gaming devices.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the obtaining step includes providing one or more user interfaces for receiving the software image from a user.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the downloading step further comprises:

encrypting the software image with a random key; and

transferring the encrypted software image to the selected group of the one or more gaming devices.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the downloading step further comprises:

encrypting the random key with a general encryption key; and

transferring the encrypted key to the selected group of the one or more gaming devices.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, where each gaming device within the selected group of the one or more gaming devices corresponds to a different random key.

15. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising issuing to the selected group of the one or more gaming devices instructions to begin executing the downloaded software image.

16. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the one or more gaming devices include at least one site controller or PC and at least one gaming machine, wherein the downloading step includes transferring the software image and an instruction to download the image to the gaming machine to the site controller or PC.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein the download step further comprises:

detecting whether the site controller or PC contains a copy of the image to be downloaded to the gaming machine; and

if the copy is a valid image, canceling the download of the software image.

18. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising issuing to the selected group of the one or more gaming devices instructions to cease executing the downloaded software image and revert back to a previous image.

19. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instruction for performing the steps recited in claim 10.

20. A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating environment, the computer system operable to perform the steps recited in claim 10.

21. A method in a computer system for implementing a download of a software image, the method comprising:

obtaining, by a central process, a software image to be downloaded;

transferring, by the central process, the software image to one or more device processes;

receiving, by the one or more device processes, the software image;

storing, by the one or more device processes, the software image; and

executing, by at least one of the one or more device processes, the software image.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, further comprising:

encrypting, by the central process, the software image; and

decrypting, by the one or more device process, the software image.

23. The method as recited in claim 21 further comprising issuing, by the central process, a command to begin executing the downloaded software image.

24. The method as recited in claim 21 further comprising issuing, by the central process, a command to cease executing the downloaded software image and begin executing a previous software image.

25. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the transferring step includes:

transferring, by the central process, the software image to a site controller process;

receiving, by the site controller process, the software image; and

transferring, by the site controller process, the software image to a gaming machine process.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, further comprising canceling, by the central process, the software image download if the site controller already has a copy of the software image.

27. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions operable for performing the steps recited in claim 21.

28. A computer system having a processor, a memory and an operating system, the computer system operable to perform the steps recited in claim 21.

29. A gaming machine system comprising:

a central system;

one or more gaming devices having storage means for receiving an executable software image, wherein the one or more gaming devices are in communication with the central system; and

downloading means for transferring the software image from the central system to the one or more gaming devices.

30. The gaming machine system as recited in claim 29, wherein the central system includes interface means for accepting the software image to be downloaded to the one or more gaming devices.

31. The gaming machine system as recited in claim 29, wherein the storage means include flash read only memory.

32. The gaming machine system as recited in claim 31, wherein the storage means include two separate flash read only memory components.

33. The gaming machine system as recited in claim 29, wherein the one or more gaming devices include at least one gaming machine.

34. The gaming machine system as recited in claim 29, wherein the one or more gaming devices include at least one site controller or compatible computing device.