Gaming machine update and mass storage management

• US 20060035713A1
• Filed: 09/09/2005
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Breckner, Robert, Nelson, Dwayne, Chen, Xuedong, Brosnan, William, Cockerille, Warner, LeMay, Steven, Bolton, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,033,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

Different mechanisms are provided to enable a gaming machine to download files/images, move/copy the files/images from one folder to another without breaking authentication, and resume interrupted file manipulation operations such as move/copy operations and/or download operations which have been interrupted by a power hit. In this way, the technique of the present invention is able to provide a self-diagnostic system for ensuring authenticated, atomic transactions, and for automatically handling detected error conditions. Additionally the technique of the present invention is able to provide a mechanism for seamlessly updating gaming machine components at runtime. This may include, for example, the automatic mounting and/or unmounting of selected games to/from the gaming machine memory during runtime.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating dynamic configuration of a gaming machine configured or designed to receive a wager on a game of chance, the method comprising:

mounting a first game into memory of the gaming machine during runtime of the gaming machine;

receiving game mounting instructions for mounting a second game into the gaming machine memory; and

automatically mounting a second game into the gaming machine memory in response to said game mounting instructions;

wherein the mounting of the second game occurs during runtime of the gaming machine.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first and second games are concurrently mounted into the gaming machine memory.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving game unmounting instructions for unmounting the first game from the gaming machine memory; and

automatically unmounting the first game from the gaming machine memory in response to said game unmounting instructions;

wherein the unmounting of the first game occurs during runtime of the gaming machine.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving game removal instructions for removing the first game from the gaming machine memory; and

automatically removing a first portion of components associated with the first game from the gaming machine memory in response to said game removal instructions, wherein the removing of the first game occurs during runtime of the gaming machine; and

retaining a second portion of components associated with the first game in the gaming machine memory after the removal of the first portion of components.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the runtime of the gaming machine occurs after an operating system of the gaming machine has been booted up.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

dynamically mounting the second game without rebooting the operating system

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the gaming machine includes non-volatile memory for storing accumulated system data, the method further comprising:

mounting the second game while preserving a first portion of accumulated system data stored in the non-volatile memory.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the first portion of accumulated system data includes gaming machine accounting data tracked over a first time period.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the first portion of accumulated system data includes meter data tracked over a first time period.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining, before the mounting of said second game, whether the second game is compatible with a first portion of system components currently installed at the gaming machine.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the first portion of system components includes the gaming machine operating system.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the runtime of the gaming machine occurs after an operating system of the gaming machine has been booted up.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the gaming machine includes non-volatile memory for storing accumulated system data, the method further comprising:

unmounting the first game while preserving a first portion of accumulated system data stored in the non-volatile memory.

12. A method for facilitating dynamic configuration of a gaming machine configured or designed to receive a wager on a game of chance, the method comprising:

mounting a first game into memory of the gaming machine during runtime of the gaming machine;

receiving game unmounting instructions for unmounting the first game from the gaming machine memory; and

automatically unmounting the first game from the gaming machine memory in response to said game unmounting instructions.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

receiving game mounting instructions for mounting a second game into the gaming machine memory; and

automatically mounting a second game into the gaming machine memory in response to said game mounting instructions;

wherein the mounting of the second game occurs during runtime of the gaming machine.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

dynamically unmounting the first game without rebooting the operating system.

13. The method of claim 13 wherein the unmounting of the first game occurs during runtime of the gaming machine.

18. A method for facilitating dynamic configuration of a gaming machine configured or designed to receive a wager on a game of chance, the method comprising:

downloading a first image from a remote server, wherein the first image includes a first portion of update information to be used for updating system-related information stored at the gaming machine;

storing the downloaded first image in memory at the gaming machine; and

dynamically updating, during runtime of the gaming machine, a first portion of the system-related information using the first portion of update information.

19. The method of claim 18:

wherein the first portion of system-related information is used for initializing at least one system-related component of the gaming machine; and

wherein the updating of the first portion of system-related information results in an update of the at least one system-related component.

20. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

authenticating the first image during runtime of the gaming machine.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the runtime of the gaming machine occurs after an operating system of the gaming machine has been booted up.

22. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

detecting a first error relating to the downloaded first image;

determining that a cause of the first error relates to an incomplete transaction associated with the downloaded first image; and

automatically initiating first error handling response in response to the detecting of the first error, wherein the first error handling response includes initiating completion of the of the incomplete transaction associated with the downloaded first image.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the error occurred as a result of a temporary power loss at the gaming machine.

24. A gaming machine configured or designed to receive a wager on a game of chance, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one interface configured or designed to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in the data network; and

memory;

the system being configured or designed to;

mount a first game into memory of the gaming machine during runtime of the gaming machine;

receive game mounting instructions for mounting a second game into the gaming machine memory; and

automatically mount a second game into the gaming machine memory in response to said game mounting instructions;

wherein the mounting of the second game occurs during runtime of the gaming machine.

25. The gaming machine of claim 24 wherein the first and second games are concurrently mounted into the gaming machine memory.

26. The gaming machine of claim 24 being further configured or designed to:

receive game unmounting instructions for unmounting the first game from the gaming machine memory; and

automatically unmount the first game from the gaming machine memory in response to said game unmounting instructions;

wherein the unmounting of the first game occurs during runtime of the gaming machine.

27. The gaming machine of claim 24 being further configured or designed to:

receive game removal instructions for removing the first game from the gaming machine memory; and

automatically remove a first portion of components associated with the first game from the gaming machine memory in response to said game removal instructions, wherein the removing of the first game occurs during runtime of the gaming machine; and

retain a second portion of components associated with the first game in the gaming machine memory after the removal of the first portion of components.

28. The gaming machine of claim 24 wherein the runtime of the gaming machine occurs after an operating system of the gaming machine has been booted up.

29. The gaming machine of claim 24 being further configured or designed to:

dynamically mount the second game without rebooting the operating system

30. The gaming machine of claim 24 wherein the gaming machine includes non-volatile memory for storing accumulated system data, the system being further configured or designed to:

mount the second game while preserving a first portion of accumulated system data stored in the non-volatile memory.

31. The gaming machine of claim 30 wherein the first portion of accumulated system data includes gaming machine accounting data tracked over a first time period.

32. The gaming machine of claim 30 wherein the first portion of accumulated system data includes meter data tracked over a first time period.

33. The gaming machine of claim 24 being further configured or designed to:

determine, before the mounting of said second game, whether the second game is compatible with a first portion of system components currently installed at the gaming machine.

34. The gaming machine of claim 33 wherein the first portion of system components includes the gaming machine operating system.

38. The gaming machine of claim 24 wherein the runtime of the gaming machine occurs after an operating system of the gaming machine has been booted up.

40. The gaming machine of claim 24 wherein the gaming machine includes non-volatile memory for storing accumulated system data, the system being further configured or designed to:

unmount the first game while preserving a first portion of accumulated system data stored in the non-volatile memory.

35. A gaming machine configured or designed to receive a wager on a game of chance, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one interface configured or designed to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in the data network; and

memory;

the system being configured or designed to;

mount a first game into memory of the gaming machine during runtime of the gaming machine;

receive game unmounting instructions for unmounting the first game from the gaming machine memory; and

automatically unmount the first game from the gaming machine memory in response to said game unmounting instructions.

36. The gaming machine of claim 35 wherein the unmounting of the first game occurs during runtime of the gaming machine.

37. The gaming machine of claim 35 being further configured or designed to:

receive game mounting instructions for mounting a second game into the gaming machine memory; and

automatically mount a second game into the gaming machine memory in response to said game mounting instructions;

wherein the mounting of the second game occurs during runtime of the gaming machine.

39. The gaming machine of claim 35 being further configured or designed to:

dynamically unmount the first game without rebooting the operating system.

41. A gaming machine configured or designed to receive a wager on a game of chance, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one interface configured or designed to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in the data network; and

memory;

the system being configured or designed to;

download a first image from a remote server, wherein the first image includes a first portion of update information to be used for updating system-related information stored at the gaming machine;

store the downloaded first image in memory at the gaming machine; and

dynamically update, during runtime of the gaming machine, a first portion of the system-related information using the first portion of update information.

42. The gaming machine of claim 41:

wherein the first portion of system-related information is used for initializing at least one system-related component of the gaming machine; and

wherein the updating of the first portion of system-related information results in an update of the at least one system-related component.

43. The gaming machine of claim 41 being further configured or designed to:

authenticate the first image during runtime of the gaming machine.

44. The gaming machine of claim 41 wherein the runtime of the gaming machine occurs after an operating system of the gaming machine has been booted up.

45. The gaming machine of claim 41 being further configured or designed to:

detect a first error relating to the downloaded first image;

determine that a cause of the first error relates to an incomplete transaction associated with the downloaded first image; and

automatically initiate first error handling response in response to the detecting of the first error, wherein the first error handling response includes initiating completion of the of the incomplete transaction associated with the downloaded first image.

46. The gaming machine of claim 45 wherein the error occurred as a result of a temporary power loss at the gaming machine.