User interface system and method for creating and verifying signed content

• US 20060100011A1
• Filed: 09/12/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming International Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Morrow, James W., DiMichele, Carmen, Kopycienski, Daniel D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,568,225 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

An embedded additional user interface 10 includes a web page display screen 20 and an embedded processor 30, and is incorporated into a gaming machine 40 that in turn includes a gaming screen 50 and a gaming processor 60. Because of security procedures applied for digital signing and certification of user selectable programming elements, the embedded additional user interface 10 employs an interface build application 79 such that the user can select and modify the look and feel of the web page display screen content. The interface build application enables content to be presented on a web page display screen that can track to an individual player. The interface build application also enables a casino user to update current casino promotions for its players in a timely manner, as well as present customized marketing messages, which can even be targeted to individual players. The casino user can customize the look and feel of web page display screen content to make the game player environment more exciting and more conducive to extended player gaming sessions.

Claims

1. A system for creation and verification of video display content for gaming machines that incorporate an embedded additional user interface, comprising:

a content creation component, wherein the content creation component facilitates creating new content, and wherein the new content customizes and enhances the gaming machine video display;

a configuration creation component, wherein the configuration creation component facilitates modification of existing content into a new configuration, and wherein the new configuration customizes and enhances the gaming machine video display; and

a digital signature creation component, wherein the new digital signature provides for verification of the new content and the new configuration.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

binding security algorithms for maintaining system security of hardware and software components, wherein the system hardware and software components are uniquely identified individually by binding codes; and

a system binding code formed from the individual binding codes, wherein unauthorized replacement of a component renders the system inoperable.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

binding security algorithms for securing content, wherein a critical log entry made to content is signed with a hashed message authorization code; and

a system security application to prevent falsification and repudiation, wherein the hashed message authorization code incorporates the critical log entry and the individual binding codes.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a signature generation and verification system implementing a Public Key Infrastructure.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a signature generation and verification system implementing a Digital Signature Algorithm.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

signature generation and verification system implementing a Rivest-Shamir-Adleman algorithm.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a Message Authorization Code, wherein the Message Authorization Code is a key-dependent one-way hash function that enables fast authentication of files at a lower security level than a full signature generation and verification.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an interface overlay build subsystem;

a subsystem for storing and managing built interface overlays;

a user verification subsystem;

a system verification subsystem; and

a downloading subsystem, wherein a buildable interface overlay is built, verified, logged, and downloaded to a computer readable storage medium.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a computer readable storage media, wherein data content is stored and published to the computer readable storage media.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer readable storage medium is a compact flash card.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein all content on the embedded additional user interface is authenticated using a gaming machine authentication procedure.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein content on the embedded additional user interface is authenticated using an electronic bKey, and wherein the bKey is an electronic identifier that is tied to a particular individual.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein a second Public Key Infrastructure is created that is rooted in a primary Public Key Infrastructure, and wherein the second Public Key Infrastructure supplies limited levels of code access, relative to the access provided by the primary Public Key Infrastructure.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

player oriented display modes presented to the player on the user display.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a display application, wherein the display application forms a video display, and wherein the video display includes buttons.

16. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a video display that includes buttons, wherein the buttons operate by mouse point and click commands.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a video display that includes buttons, wherein the buttons operate by touching a touch-screen.

18. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a button configuration component for activating buttons, wherein buttons are activated through user-selection and the active buttons are added to the display application; and

a button configuration component for arranging buttons, wherein an arranged order of buttons is user-selected and the button arrangement is added to the display application.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a video display with a logo, wherein the logo is user-selectable; and

a logo addition component, wherein the logo addition component enables a logo version to be uploaded and added to the video display.

20. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an export application, wherein the export application enables building a new instance of a display application that is transferrable to a portable memory storage device; and

an integrated marketing component, wherein a selected design layout, seleted graphics, and selected text are bundled together and and are exported using the export application.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

user-selectable design layouts, user-selectable graphics, and user-selectable text.

22. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

downloadable content, wherein the downloadable content is transferred to the embedded additional user storage device via a compact flash card.

23. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

downloadable content, wherein a user-created interface overlay is downloaded over a network.

24. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

downloadable content, wherein a user-created interface overlay is downloaded over the Internet.

25. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a management subsystem for buildable interface overlays, wherein buildable interface overlays are enabled by available interface overlay components; and

a storage subsystem for storing buildable interface overlays, wherein the storage subsystem is a computer readable storage medium.

26. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a web page information presentation, wherein the web page information presentation is displayed to a user via the embedded additional user interface display screen.

27. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a physical connector of a portable computing device, wherein the physical connector is operatively connected to a network port of an embedded additional user interface;

an updatable application, wherein an application is updatable by a user; and

a logging application, wherein the logging application provides a record of an application update and of a physical connector used during the application update.

28. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

selectable interface overlays, wherein the selectable interface overlays enable more than 700 possible user-selectable interface overlay combinations that include user-selectable choices for button style, background style, and dynamic slider-based color modification.

29. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a user reconfiguration component, wherein the user reconfiguration component enables reconfiguration of the graphical appearance of displayed views;

a user customization component, wherein the user customization component enables customization of a set of templates;

a user addition component, wherein the user addition component enables user-addition of logos, artwork, and text;

a user rearrangement component, wherein the user rearrangement component enables user-rearrangement of screens buttons;

a user color selection component, wherein the user color selection component enables color selection by a user; and

a user enablement component, wherein the user enablement component facilitates enablement of features by a user.

30. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an application results component, wherein the application results component ensures that application results are sent directly to a server;

an application content signing component, wherein the application content signing component ensures that application content is signed by the server;

an application content certification component, wherein the application content certification component ensures that application content is certified by the server; and

an application contents transfer component, wherein the application contents transfer component ensures that application contents are storably transferred to a computer readable storage medium.

31. A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the operations of:

supporting content creation;

supporting configuration creation; and

supporting digital signature creation.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 31, having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to further perform the operations of:

verifying and recording user;

enabling a user-buildable interface overlay to facilitate creation of a user-built interface overlay;

verifying the user-built interface overlay;

recording the user-built interface overlay; and

transferring the user-built interface overlay to an embedded additional user interface.

33. A method for development and presentation of video displays for gaming machines with an embedded additional user interface, comprising:

enabling creation of new content, wherein the new content customizes and enhances the gaming machine video display;

enabling configuration of existing content into a new configuration, wherein the new configuration customizes and enhances the gaming machine video display; and

enabling digital signature creation of a new digital signature, wherein the new digital signature enables for verification of the new content and the new configuration.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

uniquely identifying individual hardware and software components with binding codes generated by a binding security algorithm, wherein uniquely identified components enable the detection of unauthorized components, and wherein the detection of unauthorized components enables enhance system security; and

rendering a system inoperable in response to detection of unauthorized components, wherein detection of unauthorized components occurs when a system binding code formed from the individual binding codes is detected that uses unauthorized replacement component with no binding code, or with an unauthorized binding code.

35. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

creating a binding code by signing a critical log entry made to content with a hashed message authorization code, wherein this signing of a critical log entry forms a binding security algorithm; and

incorporating the critical log entry and the individual binding codes with the hashed message authorization code to create a system security application to prevent falsification and repudiation.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

implementing signature generation and verification, wherein signature generation and verification employs a Public Key Infrastructure.

37. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

implementing signature generation and verification, wherein signature generation and verification employs a Digital Signature Algorithm.

38. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

implementing signature generation and verification, wherein signature generation and verification employs a Rivest-Shamir-Adleman algorithm.

39. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

computing a Message Authorization Code, wherein the Message Authorization Code is a key-dependent one-way hash function providing fast authentication of files at a lower security level than full signature generation and verification.

40. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

authenticating a user;

enabling a user to build an interface overlay;

verifying the user-built interface overlay;

logging the user-built interface overlay; and

transferring the user-built interface overlay to an embedded additional user interface.

41. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

authenticating content on the embedded additional user interface using a gaming machine authentication procedure.

42. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

authenticating content on the embedded additional user interface with an electronic bKey, wherein the bKey is an electronic identifier that is tied to a particular individual.

43. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

creating a second Public Key Infrastructure that is rooted in a primary Public Key Infrastructure; and

utilizing the second Public Key Infrastructure to supply limited levels of code access, relative to the access provided by the primary Public Key Infrastructure.

44. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

storing data content to a computer readable storage medium; and

publishing data content to a computer readable storage medium.

45. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

enabling configuration of a set of activated buttons, wherein buttons to be activated are user-selectable and user-arrangeable;

enabling addition of a client logo, wherein an up-loadable version of a user logo is added to an interface overlay;

activating an integrated client marketing component, wherein a customizable overlay is formed from components selected from the group consisting of;

user selectable design layouts, user up-loadable graphics, user selectable text, user customized button configuration, and a user selectable logo;

enabling selection of a user customizable overlay; and

exporting the customized overlay to an embedded additional user interface storage device.

46. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

storing a customized overlay on an embedded additional user interface storage device, wherein the storage device is a compact flash card.

47. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

downloading a customized overlay over a network.

48. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

downloading a customized overlay over the Internet.

49. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

storing a customized overlay, wherein the customized overlay is associated with a user;

managing customized overlays, wherein the customized overlays are selectable and downloadable from a computer readable storage medium according to a user identification; and

retrieving a customized overlay associated with a user identification number, wherein the user identification number includes an individual player identification number.

50. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

presenting web page information to a user via the display screen.

51. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

operationally connecting a portable computing device, wherein the portable computing device is physically connected to a network port of an embedded additional user interface device;

enabling a user to update an application; and

enabling a user to perform logging, wherein logging involves recording time, date, identity of user performing an update, and identifying the update made.

52. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

enabling selection of more than 700 possible custom interface overlay combinations, wherein the selection of the custom interface overlay includes user-selection of button style, background style, and a dynamic slider-based color modifier.

53. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

reconfiguring a graphical appearance of a displayed view, wherein reconfiguring the graphical appearance of the displayed view includes at least one operation for customizing a set of interface overlays, wherein the customizing operations are selected from the group consisting of;

changing logos, changing artwork, changing displayed text, rearranging screens buttons, selecting background colors, selecting button colors, and selectively enabling features.

54. A method for providing creation and verification of video displays for gaming machines having an embedded additional user interface, wherein each gaming machine includes a gaming presentation and gaming processor, wherein each embedded additional user interface includes a web content capable display screen and an embedded processor that employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor enabling the embedded processor to read incoming data, translate the data into a web protocol, if necessary, and map the data to the web content capable display, the method comprising:

performing digital signature verification on the internal operating system, wherein the internal operating system must be verified in order to start the system;

performing digital signature verification on application files, wherein the application files must be verified in order to start the system;

performing digital signature verification on content files, wherein the content files must be verified in order to start the system;

utilizing boot ROMs to enforce the digital signature for the operating system;

utilizing the operating system to enforce the digital signature for the content files;

enabling use of content of a desktop application by creating a digital signature for the desktop application;

enabling continued system processing by creating a digital signature for the operating system; and

enabling continued system processing by creating a digital signature for the application files using a desktop application.

55. A computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the operations of:

performing digital signature verification on an internal operating system, wherein the internal operating system must be verified in order to start the system;

performing digital signature verification on application files, wherein the application files must be verified in order to start the system;

performing digital signature verification on content files, wherein the content files must be verified in order to start the system;

utilizing boot ROMs to enforce a digital signature for the operating system;

utilizing the operating system to enforce a digital signature for the content files;

enabling use of content of a desktop application by creating a digital signature for the desktop application;

enabling continued system processing by creating a digital signature for the operating system; and

enabling continued system processing by creating a digital signature for the application files using a desktop application.

56. A method for providing a set of player-oriented customized overlay attributes from pre-built interface overlays for development and presentation of video displays for gaming machines having an embedded additional user interface, wherein each gaming machine includes a gaming presentation and gaming processor, wherein each embedded additional user interface includes a computer-readable embedded storage medium, a web content capable display screen and an embedded processor that employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor such that the embedded processor reads incoming data, translates the data into a web protocol, if necessary, and maps the data to the web content capable display, comprising:

browsing a set of pre-built interface overlays that are currently available from a set of stored pre-built interface overlay images on the attachable computer readable storage medium;

selecting a pre-built interface overlay wherein the pre-built interface overlay is currently available from a set of stored pre-built interface overlays on the attachable computer readable storage medium;

browsing a set of features that are currently available from a set of stored feature images on the attachable computer readable storage medium, wherein a feature is selectable for enablement;

selecting features that are currently available from a set of stored features on the portable computer readable storage medium;

selecting a pre-built marketing message format; and

entering the message content using a keyboard of a portable computer.

57. The method of claim 56, further comprising:

selecting at least one marketing message from the group consisting of;

birthday, anniversary, generic bonus, and first time player.

58. A method for providing a set of player-oriented appearance attributes from custom-built interface overlays for development and presentation of video displays for gaming machines having an embedded additional user interface, wherein each gaming machine includes a gaming presentation and gaming processor, wherein each embedded additional user interface includes a computer-readable storage medium, a web content capable display screen, and an embedded processor that employs an internal operating system and communicates with the gaming processor such that the embedded processor reads incoming data, translates the data into a web protocol, if necessary, and maps the data to the web content capable display, the method comprising:

enabling user-selection of a layout from a set of stored images;

enabling user-selection of a background image from a set of stored images to add to the custom layout;

enabling user-selection of a color from a set of stored colors to add to the custom layout;

enabling user-selection of button style and button color from a set of stored button styles and button colors to add to the custom layout;

enabling user-selection of features from a set of stored features to add to the custom layout, wherein selected features are enabled;

enabling user-selection of navigation from a set of stored navigations to add to the custom layout; and

enabling user-selection of marketing messages from a set of stored marketing messages to add to the custom layout.