Method for downloading data to gaming devices

• US 20060040745A1
• Filed: 10/12/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Wilder, Richard, Wells, Bill
• Granted Patent: US 7,951,006 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• 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: G06Q 50/34 Betting or bookmaking, e.g. Internet betting
• 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 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3288 Betting, e.g. on live events, bookmaking

Abstract

Memories coupled to a gaming terminal, are reprogrammed by a method and apparatus which includes identification, negotiation, downloading and verification information from an external information source to a gaming terminal. Hardware devices are used to identify gaming terminals or components.

Claims

1. A method for downloading software from a source to a gaming device in a network of gaming devices, the method comprising:

(a) transmitting first information from said first gaming device to said source, identifying at least a first hardware component of said first gaming device;

(b) verifying that said data is appropriate for said at least first hardware component of said first gaming device, wherein the first gaming device and a second gaming device in said network of gaming devices are configured differently;

(c) transmitting second information from said source to said first gaming device describing at least a first characteristic of said download and a request for an approval response verifying that the first gaming device is in a ready mode including determining if the first gaming device has current credits granted;

(d) transmitting the approval response from said first gaming device to said source indicating that said first gaming device is configured to receive said download;

(e) determining if said first gaming device has been idle for a designated amount of time; and

(f) transmitting said data from said source to said first gaming device when said first gaming device has been idle for said designated amount of time.

2. The method of claim 1, which includes:

calculating a signature based at least partially on a random starting address and transmitting said signature to said source; and

comparing said signature with a signature available to said source.

3. The method of claim 1, which includes repeating (e) when said first gaming device has not been idle for said designated amount of time.

4. The method of claim 1, which includes repeating (e) after a predetermined time period when said first gaming device has not been idle for said designated amount of time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the designated amount of time is based on the time between wagers made by a player.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the designated amount of time is based on the time between handle pulls by a player.

7. The method of claim 1, which includes transmitting the data in a blockwise sequence.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said first information includes information identifying software stored on said gaming device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said second information includes information identifying software stored on said source.

10. The method of claim 1, which includes outputting a message when said first information indicates said data is already stored on said gaming device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said first gaming device includes a plurality of circuit boards, and wherein said source is coupled to a first of said circuit boards and wherein said first information identifies hardware on at least a second of said circuit boards.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said first gaming device includes a plurality of circuit boards which contain a non-programmable memory storing hardware identification information.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting said software from said source to said gaming device uses a serial data transmission protocol.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting first information from said second gaming device to said source, said first information identifying at least a first hardware component of said second gaming device;

comparing said first information to predetermined first information to determine whether said data is appropriate for said at least first hardware component; and

determining that the data is not appropriate for said at least first hardware component.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the steps after the verifying step are not performed with respect to the second gaming device.

16. An apparatus for downloading data from a source to a gaming device, the apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting first information to said source, said first information identifying at least a first hardware component of said gaming device;

means for verifying, based on said first information, that said data is appropriate for said at least first hardware;

means for transmitting second information from said source to said gaming device describing at least a first characteristic of said download and a request for an approval response;

means for verifying that said gaming device is in a ready mode including means for determining if the first gaming machine has current credits granted;

means for transmitting the approval response from said gaming device to said source indicating that said gaming device is configured to receive said download;

means for determining if said gaming device has been idle for a designated amount of time; and

means for transmitting said data from said source to said gaming device via downloading means when said gaming device has been idle for said designated amount of time.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, which includes means for calculating a signature based at least partially on a random starting address and transmitting said signature to said source;

and

means for comparing said signature with a signature available to said source.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said first information includes at least one of serial or other hardware identification numbers, manufacturing ID information or codes, manufacturer name, hardware or software revision designations, date of manufacture, date of installation, date of sale, date of shipping, date of software revision and software file size.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising means for outputting a message when said first information indicates said data is already stored on said gaming device.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said gaming device includes a plurality of circuit boards, and wherein said source is coupled to a first of said circuit boards and wherein said first information identifies hardware on at least a second of said circuit boards.

21. The apparatus of 17, wherein said means for calculating a signature comprises means for calculating a digital signature based on data stored in memory using a public key encryption/decryption algorithm.

22. A network of gaming devices, comprising:

a first gaming device having at least a first hardware component;

a second gaming device having at least a first hardware component, wherein the first and second gaming devices are configured differently; and

a source device in communication with the first and second gaming devices and including;

data to be downloaded to at least one of the first and second gaming devices;

a verifier for determining whether the data is appropriate for the at least one of the first and second gaming devices, the verifier comparing first information, concerning at least one of the first and second gaming devices, to predetermined first information;

a negotiator for determining that at least one of the first or second gaming devices is in a ready mode including determining if the first gaming machine has current credits granted;

a data transferor for transferring data to at least one of the first and second gaming devices after at least one of said first and second gaming devices has been idle for a designated amount of time;

a comparer for comparing a signature received from the at least one of the first and second gaming devices with a signature based at least partially on a random starting address and available to said source device.

23. The network of claim 22, wherein the designated amount of time is based on the time between wagers made by a player.

24. The network of claim 22, wherein the designated amount of time is based on the time between handle pulls by a player.

25. The network of claim 22, further comprising:

a local controller in communication with the first and second gaming devices and the source device.

26. The network of claim 25, wherein the local controller includes a local server and a cluster controller.

27. The network of claim 22, wherein the source device further includes:

a second information transmitter for transmitting a second information to at least one of the first and second gaming devices; and

a data transmitter for transmitting data to the at least one of the first and second gaming devices, and wherein the at least one of the first and second gaming devices further includes;

(i) a signature calculator for calculating a signature based at least partially on the date;

a random starting address; and

(ii) a signature transmitter for transmitting the signature to the source device.

28. A method for manufacturing a plurality of gaming devices, comprising:

(a) providing a download terminal for providing data to at least one of first and second computational components,

(b) determining an idle time period;

(c) transmitting first information from said gaming device to said download terminal;

(d) comparing the first information from the gaming device to predetermined first information pertaining to said first computational component;

(e) determining, based on the results of the comparing step (c), whether said first computational component is appropriate for said data;

(f) transmitting second information describing at least a first characteristic of said download from said download terminal to said gaming device, when the first computational component is appropriate for said data and a request for an approval response;

(g) verifying that the gaming device is in a ready mode including determining if the gaming device has current credits granted;

(h) transmitting third information indicating that the gaming device is configured to receive the download from said download terminal, when the first computational component is appropriate for said data; and

(i) transmitting said data from the download terminal to said first computational component when the first computational component is appropriate for said data and the idle time period has expired;

(j) determining whether said second computational component is appropriate for said data;

(k) transmitting the second information describing at least a first characteristic of said download from said download terminal to said second computational component, when the second computational component is appropriate for said data;

(l) transmitting third information indicating that the gaming device is configured to receive the download from said download terminal, when the second computational component is appropriate for said data; and

(m) transmitting said data from the download terminal to said second computational component, when the second computational component is appropriate for said data and the idle time period has expired.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the first computational component is a memory location of the gaming device.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the first computational component is a peripheral device.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the data includes a peripheral program.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the second computational component is a memory location of the gaming device.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein the second computational component is a peripheral device.

34. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

calculating a signature based at least partially on the data and transmitting the signature to the source; and

comparing the signature with a signature available to the download terminal.

35. The method of claim 28, which includes transmitting said data from the download terminal to said first and second computational components at the same time.