Universal game download system for legacy gaming machines using ROM and NVRAM emulation

• US 20060160626A1
• Filed: 03/20/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mudalla Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cyberview Technology, Inc. (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Gatto, Jean-Marie, Brunet de Courssou, Thierry, Beney, Pierre-Jean
• Granted Patent: US 7,921,302 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• 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 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/407 Data transfer via internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• 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: G06F 2221/2109 Game systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• 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 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

A universal method and system for downloading game software to ROM based legacy gaming machines, activating selected games and providing new services. The method includes a ROM emulator for replacing the game program image and an NVRAM emulator for swapping the game context and critical meters accordingly. The method includes detection of the state of the current game activity such as to activate a new game only at an authorized time, when no player is playing a game or is carded-in for example. The system includes emulation of the original peripherals fitted to the legacy gaming machine such as to offer extended functionality and services. The universal method and system therefore prolongs the useful life of legacy machines which otherwise would be prematurely retired.

Claims

1. A method for a legacy gaming machine to execute a second legacy game software received over a network, the legacy gaming machine comprising a locked cabinet and a legacy controller enclosed within the locked cabinet, the legacy controller being configured to execute a first legacy game software stored in a read-only memory and to save the context of the first legacy game software in a non-volatile memory, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a PC disposed within the locked cabinet, the PC including a writable persistent storage and a communication interface with the network;

replacing the read-only memory storing the first legacy game software with a read-only memory emulator coupled to the PC and the legacy controller;

replacing the non-volatile memory with a non-volatile memory emulator coupled to the PC and the legacy controller;

providing a control interface between the PC and the legacy controller to at least one of stop and restart the legacy controller;

receiving, by the PC, the second legacy game software over the network and storing the received second legacy game software to the writable persistent storage of the PC;

initializing the content of the non-volatile memory emulator, and

enabling the legacy controller to execute the second legacy game software.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step includes steps of:

receiving a code signed package containing the second legacy game software over the network;

verifying the code signed package, and

unpacking the verified code signed package.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second legacy game software is received over the network from a download server that enforces a policy, wherein the PC is controlled by the policy and wherein the verifying step is carried out according to the policy enforced by the download server

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the download server that enforces the policy is configured with Microsoft Active Directory and wherein the policy controlling the PC is configured in Active Directory.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second legacy game software is authorized by a regulatory authority.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step uses the Software Installation Policy (SIP) feature of the Windows®

operating system.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step uses the Microsoft SMS Systems Management Server.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the receiving step is carried out with the package is a Microsoft MSI package.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step is carried out with the package being equivalent to a Microsoft MSI package.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the code signed package includes a PKI certificate that is uniquely generated and identified for the code signed package.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein the code signed package includes a PKI certificate that is uniquely generated and identified for the second legacy game software.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the read-only memory of the legacy controller includes a ROM, an EPROM, a CD-ROM, a DVD and a rewritable memory in which the write function has been disabled by a mechanism that cannot be modified by software executing on the legacy controller.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the PC writable persistent storage includes one of a hard-disk, a floppy disk, a flash disk, a solid-state rewritable disk and a rotary rewritable media.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the read only memory of the legacy controller includes at least one EPROM and the read-only memory emulator emulates the at least one EPROM and wherein the enabling step includes sending the unpacked second legacy game software stored in the writable persistent storage of the PC to the read-only memory emulator to enable the legacy controller to execute the second legacy game software from the read-only memory emulator.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein the read only memory of the legacy controller includes a CD-ROM reader and the read-only memory emulator emulates the CD-ROM reader and wherein the enabling step includes sending the unpacked second legacy game software to the read-only memory emulator such that the legacy controller executes the second legacy game software read from the read-only memory emulator.

16. The method of claim 3, further comprising re-verifying a previously unpacked second legacy game software by carrying out steps of making a copy of the previously unpacked second legacy game software, unpacking the code signed package containing the second legacy game software according to the policy enforced by the download server, and comparing the unpacked second legacy game software with the copy of the previously unpacked second legacy game software.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the initializing step includes a RAM clear performed according to applicable game regulation.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying step is carried out according to the software restriction policy.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the software restriction policy is configured with Microsoft Active Directory and wherein the PC is configured with Active Directory.

18. A gaming machine, comprising:

a legacy controller;

a PC having a network interface;

a control interface coupled to the PC and the legacy controller to at least one of stop and restart the legacy controller;

a read-only memory emulator coupled to the PC and to the legacy controller, and

a non-volatile random access memory emulator coupled to the PC and the legacy controller.

19. The gaming machine of claim 18, wherein the PC is programmed to receive software components over the network from a download server that enforces a policy and wherein the PC is controlled by the policy.

20. The gaming machine of claim 18, further including writable persistent storage coupled to the PC.

21. The gaming machine of claim 18, wherein the legacy controller further includes a communication interface with a central management system over a legacy network, and wherein the legacy gaming machine further includes:

an interface controlled by the PC that enables data communicated over the legacy network to be intercepted by the PC, and

a software process executing on the PC to detect at least one of cash-out, credit balance, attendant alert, and security alarm events from the intercepted data.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the legacy network implements the Slot Accounting System (SAS) standard.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the legacy gaming machine further includes a coin (or bill) acceptor emulator controlled by the PC and a cashless instrument accepting device controlled by the PC to enable the legacy gaming machine to accept credits via a cashless instrument without modifying software executing in the legacy controller.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the legacy gaming machine further includes a coin hopper emulator controlled by the PC and a cashless instrument dispensing device controlled by the PC to enable the legacy gaming machine to dispense winnings or credits via a cashless instrument instead of coins without modifying software executing in the legacy controller.

25. A method for a legacy gaming machine to download and enable new game software to execute, the legacy gaming machine comprising a legacy controller, a PC having an interface to a network and writable persistent storage, a read-only memory emulator coupled to the PC and to the legacy controller, and a non-volatile random access memory emulator coupled to the PC and to the legacy controller, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a code signed package from the network;

verifying the code signed package and unpacking the new game software from the verified code signed package;

disabling game play on the legacy gaming machine;

storing the unpacked new game software in the read only memory emulator;

initializing contents of the non-volatile random access memory emulator;

resetting the legacy controller and enabling the reset legacy controller to take control of the read-only memory emulator and the non-volatile random access memory emulator and re-enabling game play on the legacy gaming machine.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein before the initializing step, the method further includes a step of reading existing meters in the non-volatile random access memory emulator and storing the existing meters in the PC'"'"'s writable persistent storage.

27. A method to enable a legacy gaming machine to execute a user-selected one of a plurality of new software legacy games, the legacy gaming machine comprising a legacy controller, a PC having an interface to a network and writable persistent storage, a read-only memory emulator coupled to the PC and to the legacy controller, and a non-volatile random access memory emulator coupled to the PC and the legacy controller, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a code signed package for each of the new legacy games from the network;

verifying each received code signed package and unpacking each of the new legacy games from the verified code signed package;

storing each of the unpacked new legacy games in the PC'"'"'s writable persistent storage;

disabling game play on the legacy gaming machine;

providing the user with a menu of available ones of the stored new legacy games;

accepting a selection from the user of a desired one of the available new legacy games;

storing the user selected new legacy game in the read only memory emulator;

initializing contents of the non-volatile random access memory emulator;

resetting the legacy controller and enabling the reset legacy controller to take control of the read-only memory emulator and the non-volatile random access memory emulator and enabling the legacy controller to execute the new legacy game stored in the read only memory emulator.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the receiving step is carried out with the code signed package being received from a download server coupled to the network and wherein the download server enforces a software restriction policy.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the received new legacy games are authorized by a regulatory authority.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the receiving step uses the Software Installation Policy (SIP) feature of the Windows®

operating system.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein the receiving step uses the Microsoft SMS Systems Management Server.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the receiving step is carried out with the code signed package being a Microsoft MSI package.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein the receiving step is carried out with the package being equivalent to a Microsoft MSI package.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein the code signed package includes a PKI certificate that is uniquely produced and identified for the code signed package.

37. The method of claim 27, wherein the code signed package includes a PKI certificate that is uniquely produced and identified for the received new legacy game.

38. The method of claim 27, wherein the PC writable persistent storage includes one of a hard-disk, a floppy disk, a flash disk, a solid-state rewritable disk and a rotary rewritable media.

39. The method of claim 27, wherein the initializing step includes a RAM clear performed according to applicable game regulation.

40. The method of claim 27, wherein the legacy gaming machine further comprises a touch sensitive display panel coupled to the PC and wherein the accepting step is carried out with the touch sensitive display panel sensing the user selected new legacy game from a menu of the available new legacy games.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising displaying a new pay table that corresponds to the user selected new legacy game.

42. A method for a legacy gaming machine to selectively execute one of a plurality of software legacy games received over a network, the legacy gaming machine including a legacy controller and being upgraded with a network connected PC controlled under a software restriction policy enforced by a central server, a read-only memory emulator coupled to the PC, a non-volatile memory emulator coupled to the PC, a control interface coupled to the PC and to the legacy controller to at least one of stop and restart program execution by the legacy controller, and means of selecting one of the plurality of legacy games, the PC being programmed to receive, verify and unpack code-signed packages containing selected ones of the plurality of legacy games under the software restriction policy, the PC having persistent rewritable storage, the method comprising the steps of:

enabling the legacy controller to execute a first one of the plurality of legacy games using a first context with which the first legacy game is uniquely associated, the first context becoming the current context;

accepting a selection via the selecting means, of a second one of the plurality of legacy games;

stopping program execution in the legacy controller using the control interface;

saving the current context in the persistent writable storage of the PC;

restarting program execution in the legacy controller to enable the legacy controller to execute the second legacy game using a second context which the second legacy game is uniquely associated, the second context becoming the current context, and

returning to the accepting step.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the first context is initialized to a RAM-clear state as required by applicable game regulation prior to enabling the legacy controller to execute.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the second context is initialized to a RAM-clear state as required by applicable game regulation prior to enabling the legacy controller to execute.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the first context is initialized to a previous context uniquely associated with the first legacy game if the first legacy game has previously been executed by the legacy controller.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the second context is initialized to a previous context uniquely associated with the second legacy game if the second legacy game has previously been executed by the legacy controller.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein the enabling step includes the steps of reading the first context from the persistent rewritable storage of the PC and loading the first context into the non-volatile memory emulator.

48. The method of claim 42, wherein the restarting step includes the steps of reading the second context from the persistent rewritable storage of the PC and loading the second context to the non-volatile memory emulator.

49. The method of claim 42, wherein the enabling step includes the steps of reading the first legacy game from the persistent rewritable storage of the PC, and if the first legacy game is available on the persistent rewritable storage, is not corrupted and is trusted, loading the first legacy game into the read-only memory emulator and restarting the legacy controller.

50. The method of claim 42, wherein the restarting step includes the steps of reading the second legacy game from the persistent rewritable storage of the PC, and if the first legacy game is available on the persistent rewritable storage, is not corrupted and is trusted, loading the second legacy game into the read-only memory emulator and restarting the legacy controller.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the steps of reading the first legacy game includes the steps of verifying and unpacking the code-signed package containing the first legacy game according to the software restriction policy, and a step of storing the first legacy game to the persistent rewritable storage of the PC.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein the steps of reading the second legacy game includes the steps of verifying and unpacking the code-signed package containing the second legacy game according to the software restriction policy, and a step of storing the second legacy game to the persistent rewritable storage of the PC.

53. The method of claim 49 wherein, if the first legacy game is unavailable on the persistent rewritable storage of the PC, is corrupted or is not trusted, the method further includes carrying out step of:

receiving over the network, verifying and unpacking the code-signed package containing the first legacy game according to the software restriction policy, storing the first legacy game to the persistent rewritable storage, loading the first legacy game into the read-only memory emulator and restarting the legacy controller.

54. The method of claim 50 wherein, if the second legacy game is unavailable on the persistent rewritable storage of the PC, is corrupted or is not trusted, the method further includes carrying out step of:

receiving over the network, verifying and unpacking the code-signed package containing the second legacy game according to the software restriction policy, storing the second legacy game to the persistent rewritable storage, loading the second legacy game into the read-only memory emulator and restarting the legacy controller.

55. The method of claim 42, wherein the selection accepting step is controlled by a central scheduler via the PC.

56. The method of claim 42, wherein the selecting means in the selection accepting step is configured to accept a selection from a player of the legacy gaming machine.

57. The method of claim 42, wherein the selection accepting step is carried out with the selecting means including a display controlled by the PC and to display paytables and/or help files associated with a currently executing one of the plurality of legacy games.

58. The method of claim 42, wherein the selecting step is authorized if no player has been playing on the legacy gaming machine for a predetermined amount of time.

59. The method of claim 42, wherein the selecting step is not authorized if a player is carded-in as determined by a player tracking card reader controlled by the PC.