Method and apparatus for gaming device software configuration

• US 20070067768A1
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Breckner, Robert, LeMay, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,886,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/174
• 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 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/63 Image based installation; Cloning; Build to order

Abstract

A method and apparatus for packaging, distributing, installing, deleting, or updating gaming software is disclosed. In one embodiment the method and apparatus of the invention identifies a plurality of files, which may exceed hundreds of files, to be distributed, installed, or provided as updates. The plurality of files are selected and processed into a reduced number of files, often a single file. The single file contains all of the plurality of files and is capable of being further processed to restore the plurality of files and the directory structure of the plurality of files.

Claims

1. A gaming apparatus comprising:

a memory storing a plurality of software files;

a logic designed or configured to;

     1) group the plurality of software files into three separate image files consisting of an operating system image file, a control system image file and a game image file;

     2) to specify all operating system files in the plurality of software files to be included in the operating system image file, control system files and game files in the plurality of software files not included in the operating system image file;

     3) to specify all the control system files in the plurality of software files to be included in the control system image file, the operating system files and the game files in the plurality of software files not included in the control system image file;

     4) to specify all the game files in the plurality of software files to be included in the game image file, the operating system files and the control system files in the plurality of software files not included in the game image file;

     5) to create the operating system image file, the control system image file and the game image file;

     6) to specify separate mount points for each of the operating system image file, the control system image file and the game image file wherein the files of each of said image files are extractable at the respective separate mount points to cause the files of each of said image files to be available for use by the gaming device; and

     7) to copy the operating system image file, the control system image file and the game image file to a media accessible from a gaming device.

2. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the media comprises one or more of a disk drive, an optical disk or a flash memory.

3. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the media is portable memory device.

4. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a communication interface for allowing the processor to communicate with the gaming device.

5. The gaming apparatus of claim 4, wherein the media is located on the gaming device and the operating system image file, the control system image file and the game image files are copied to the media via the communication interface.

6. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the operating system image file, the control system image file or the gaming image file is created according to the ISO 9660/Joliet file standard.

7. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the game files are for generating a game involving wagering on the gaming device.

8. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the media is coupled to the gaming apparatus.

9. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the operating system image file includes a subset of operating system files utilized by the gaming device.

10. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control system image file includes a subset of control system files utilized by the gaming device.

11. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the game image file includes a subset of game files utilized by the gaming device.

12. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the operating system image file, the control system image file or the gaming image file is created using a format selected of the group consisting of LZH format, ZIP format, and the TAR format.

19. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the remote storage media is coupled to the gaming apparatus.

20. The gaming apparatus of claim 19, wherein the operating system compilation file includes a subset of operating system software files utilized by the gaming device.

21. The gaming apparatus of claim 19, wherein the control system compilation file includes a subset of control system files utilized by the gaming device.

22. The gaming apparatus of claim 19, wherein the game compilation file includes a subset of game software files utilized by the gaming device.

23. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the operating system image file, the control system image file or the gaming image file is created using a format selected of the group consisting of LZH format, ZIP format, and the TAR format.

13. A gaming apparatus comprising:

a memory storing software files;

a logic device designed or configured to

     1) group the software files into three separate compilation files consisting of an operating system compilation file, a control system compilation file and a game compilation file;

     2) collect all operating system software files in the software files into the operating system compilation file wherein control system software files and game software files are not collected in the operating system compilation file;

     3) to collect all the control system software files into the control system compilation file wherein the operating system software files and the game software files are not collected in the control system compilation file;

     4) to collect all the game software files into the game compilation file wherein the operating system software files and control system software files are not collected in the game compilation file;

     5) to designate separate mount points for each compilation file on a storage media; and

     6) to send the operating system compilation file, the control system compilation file and the game compilation file to a remote storage media wherein the operating system compilation file, control system compilation file and the game compilation file are each expandable on the remote storage media to create the collected operating system software files, the collected control system software files and the collected game software files on the remote storage media.

14. The gaming apparatus of claim 13, wherein the remote store media comprises one or more of a disk drive, optical disk, a flash memory or combination thereof.

15. The gaming apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a communication interface for allowing the processor allow communications with the remote storage media.

16. The gaming apparatus of claim 13, wherein the remote storage media is located on a gaming device and the operating system compilation file, the control system compilation file and the game image compilation file are sent to the remote storage media via a communication interface coupled to the gaming apparatus.

17. The gaming apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least one of the operating system compilation file, the control system compilation file or the gaming compilation file is created according to the ISO 9660/Joliet file standard.

18. The gaming apparatus of claim 13, wherein the game software files are for generating a game involving wagering on a gaming device.