Methods and apparatus for awarding prizes based on authentication of computer generated outcomes using coupons

• US 20060093142A1
• Filed: 11/21/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventor Holdings LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Walker Digital LLC (Walker Innovation Inc. (f/k/a Patent Properties, Inc.))
• Inventors: Jorasch, James A., Schneier, Bruce, Walker, Jay S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,362,862 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 380/251
• 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 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/401 Secure communication, e.g. using encryption or authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/513 server hierarchy, e.g. local, regional, national or dedicated for different tasks, e.g. authenticating, billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/535 for monitoring, e.g. of user parameters, terminal parameters, application parameters, network parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5546 using player registration data, e.g. identification, account, preferences, game history
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/558 by assessing the players' skills or ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3218 wherein at least part of the system is portable
• 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 17/3276 wherein the players compete, e.g. tournament
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/123 : received data contents, e.g. message integrity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3231 : Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 : involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3273 : for mutual authentication network architectures or network communication protocols for achieving mutual authentication in a packet data network H04L63/0869

Abstract

The present invention provides authentication of computer generated game or test results (“outcomes”), and a system by which persons who play games or take tests on a game or testing computer, respectively, may submit the outcomes of the games or tests to a central authority having at least one central computer, and have the central computer “certify” those outcomes as being accurately reported and fairly achieved. This certification of the computer generated result constitutes a “remote-auditing” of the activity taking place on the game computer. In one application, the system enables computer generated game tournaments in which players play the games on game computers and compete against each other by submitting the outcomes for those tournament games to the central computer, which certifies the outcomes and rates and ranks the players. In another application, the system provides for players of computer games to obtain a certified ranking and rating without participation in a tournament. In other embodiments, the system provides for self-authentication and certification of outcomes for games played on the game computer itself, or for mutual-authentication and certification of such outcomes on any other game computer in the system.

Claims

1-37. -37. (canceled)

38. a gaming apparatus for providing a game of chance, the gaming apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a display device controlled by the processor; and

a memory in communication with the processor, the memory comprising RAM and non-alterable ROM and storing software, the software including a game program and at least one cryptographic protocol,

the processor being operable with the software to;

generate an outcome for a game of chance using the game program, generate an authenticatable outcome message based on the outcome and a first cryptographic protocol, and communicate the authenticatable outcome message to a central computer that is configured to authenticate the authenticatable outcome message, and also

generate a value based on at least a portion of the game program and a second cryptographic protocol, compare the generated value with a stored value stored in the memory, and disable the game program if the generated value does not match the stored value.

39. The gaming apparatus of claim 38,

in which the stored value is a stored digital signature stored in the memory;

generating the value comprises creating a digital signature of the game program; and

comparing comprises comparing the created digital signature with the stored digital signature.

40. The gaming apparatus of claim 38,

in which the stored value is a stored hash value stored in the memory;

generating the value comprises creating a hash value of the game program; and

comparing comprises comparing the created hash value with the stored hash value.

41. A method of authenticating outcomes generated by a gaming machine, the method comprising:

generating an outcome for a game of chance using a game program,

in which at least a portion of the game program is stored in memory of a gaming machine,

in which the memory of the gaming machine comprises RAM, non-alterable ROM, and at least one of the following types of memory devices;

a disk,

a disk drive,

a CD-ROM,

a cartridge,

a PCMCIA card,

a ROM chip, or

flash memory;

generating an authenticatable outcome message based on the outcome and at least one first cryptographic protocol;

communicating the authenticatable outcome message to a central computer,

the central computer being configured to authenticate the authenticatable outcome message;

generating a value based on at least a portion of the game program and at least one second cryptographic protocol;

verifying the game program based on a comparison of the generated value with a stored value; and

disabling the game program based on the comparison of the generated value and the stored value.

42. The method of claim 41, in which the memory of the gaming machine further stores an encryption/decryption module.

43. The method of claim 42, in which the encryption/decryption module resides within a secure perimeter.

44. The method of claim 42, in which the encryption/decryption module resides within a portion of the memory that is non-alterable.

45. The method of claim 41, in which at least one of a portion of the game program and an encryption/decryption module resides on the central computer.

46. The method of claim 41, in which the authenticatable outcome message includes a current time.

47. The method of claim 41, in which the at least a portion of the game program resides within a secure perimeter.

48. The method of claim 41, in which generating the authenticatable outcome message comprises:

encrypting the outcome with a secret key that is shared with the central computer,

in which the central computer is further configured to decrypt the authenticatable outcome message with the secret key.

49. The method of claim 41, in which generating the authenticatable outcome message comprises:

hashing the outcome with a message authentication code and a secret key,

in which the central computer is further configured to hash the authenticatable outcome message with the secret key.

50. The method of claim 41, in which generating the authenticatable outcome message comprises:

encrypting the outcome with a private key,

in which the central computer is further configured to decrypt the authenticatable outcome message with a public key associated with the gaming machine.

51. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

receiving a random number generated by the central computer; and

in which generating the authenticatable outcome message comprises;

incorporating the random number in the authenticatable outcome message.

52. The method of claim 41, in which the generated value is a hash value of the game program.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising:

signing the hash value using a private key and a digital signature protocol.

54. The method of claim 53, in which the signed hash value is verifiable using a public key.

55. The method of claim 54, in which the public key resides at the central computer.

56. The method of claim 54, in which the public key resides at the gaming machine.

57. The method of claim 53, in which the private key resides in an encryption/decryption module stored in the memory of the gaming machine.

58. The method of claim 52, in which the authenticatable outcome message includes the hash value.

59. The method of claim 41, in which the stored value is stored by the central computer.

60. The method of claim 41, in which at least a portion of the game program is stored on a memory device.

61. The method of claim 41, in which the stored game value is stored within a secure perimeter.

62. The method of claim 41, in which verifying comprises:

transmitting the generated value to the central computer,

in which the central computer is further configured to compare the generated value to the stored value.

63. The method of claim 62, in which the stored value is stored by the central computer.

64. The method of claim 41, in which verifying comprises:

determining by the gaming machine that the generated value does not match the stored value.

65. The method of claim 41, in which verifying comprises:

receiving from the central computer a message indicating that the generated value and the stored value do not match.

66. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

receiving from the central computer a message indicating that the game program should be disabled.

67. A computer readable medium storing instructions configured to direct a processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

generating an outcome for a game of chance using a game program;

generating an authenticatable outcome message based on the outcome and at least one first cryptographic protocol;

communicating the authenticatable outcome message to a central computer,

the central computer being configured to authenticate the authenticatable outcome message;

generating a value based on at least a portion of the game program and at least one second cryptographic protocol;

verifying the game program based on a comparison of the generated value with a stored value; and

disabling the game program based on the comparison of the generated value and the stored value.