Secure progressive controller

• US 20080090653A1
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Kuehling, Brian L., Ruckle, Clyde, Hollenbeck, Michael F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,934,993 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 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine

Abstract

A method and system for configuring a progressive system that insures enhanced operative control and security of the progressive system. The progressive controller provides one or more electronic security keys to access and verify modifications to the progressive configuration. The allocated number of gaming devices connected to the progressive system is authenticated by a dedicated electronic security key. Gaming devices in excess of the allocation are disabled from the progressive system. The electronic security keys are configured with an expiration parameter that requires gaming establishments to remain current with respect to progressive system agreements. The data on the progressive controller is established so it may be read by browser interface software. Progressive system configuration parameters are automatically acquired and authenticated by the progressive controller.

Claims

1. A system for configuring and authenticating a progressive game network comprising:

a progressive controller comprising;

memory configured with machine readable code stored thereon;

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to read and execute the machine readable code, the machine readable code configured to;

control access from a secondary computer to the progressive controller using a logon routine; and

if the logon is successful, then presenting a plurality of interface pages using an HTML capable browser, wherein the interface pages permit modification of a plurality of progressive controller configuration settings.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the interface pages are configured to modify the progressive controller configuration settings.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the progressive controller further comprises a key interface which utilizes a programming key configured to authorize logon and enable data modifications.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the programming key is specifically associated to the progressive controller.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein modification of the progressive controller configuration settings comprise modifications selected from the group consisting of a group level, a denomination, a base/reset, a current value, an increment percentage, a minimum value and a maximum value.

6. A system for configuring a progressive game network comprising:

at least one gaming device coupled with a progressive controller;

the progressive controller comprising;

a processor coupled to a memory, the memory having a machine readable code stored thereon, the machine readable code configured with an interrogation routine which polls a plurality gaming devices connected to the progressive controller to acquire progressive setup information from the gaming devices.

7. The system of claim 6 further comprising an authentication routine, wherein the authentication routine compares a plurality of gaming device configuration data with a plurality of predetermined progressive parameter ranges and analyzes a progressive controller configuration to enable game play, generate an alert or generate a fault.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein the interrogation routine utilizes a network address unique to the gaming device.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein the progressive setup information obtained from the gaming device is selected from the group consisting of percentage, denomination, progressive group, network address and hit frequency.

10. The system of claim 6 wherein the gaming device is selected from the group of gaming devices consisting of table games, slot machines, poker machines, keno machines and lottery machines.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the progressive controller further comprises a key interface which utilizes a programming key to enable modifications to a plurality of progressive parameter configurations and a run key to enable operation of a predetermined number of licensed gaming devices coupled with the progressive game network.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the programming key and run key are specifically associated to the progressive controller.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the predetermined number of licensed gaming devices enabled by the progressive controller resides on the programming key.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the predetermined number of licensed gaming devices enabled by the progressive controller resides on a run key, wherein the run key enables operation of at least one gaming device coupled with the progressive game network.

15. A method of configuring a progressive system comprising:

connecting at least one gaming device to a progressive controller;

initiating an interrogation routine, wherein the interrogation routine reads at least one or more gaming devices to obtain gaming device configuration data and stores the one or more gaming device configuration data in a memory;

initiating an authentication routine which compares the one or more gaming device configuration data with one or more predetermined progressive parameter ranges in order to determine if the gaming device configuration data is within the progressive parameter ranges, if so, the authentication routine enables game play and determines if the gaming device configuration data is outside of the progressive parameter ranges, and if so then generating an alert.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the authentication routine performs comparisons to determine if the progressive controller is configured to payout at an undesirable payout rate, the comparisons selected from the group consisting of progressive group level assignments, percentage of wagers that are assigned to the progressive award, and percentage of the gaming device wager retention.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the progressive controller is equipped with a key interface which utilizes a programming key to enable modifications to a plurality of progressive parameter configurations.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the programming key is specifically associated to the progressive controller.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the gaming device configuration data obtained from the gaming device comprises denomination, percent hold, percent payout, progressive group numbers, progressive level numbers, and progressive game network address.

20. A system for reporting and statusing of one or more progressive game networks comprising:

one or more progressive controllers comprising;

a processor coupled to a memory, the memory having machine readable code stored thereon, the machine readable code configured to permit access from a secondary computer to a plurality of progressive controller configuration settings upon a successful logon; and

if the logon is successful, then presenting a plurality of interface pages using an HTML capable browser, wherein the interface pages present status information regarding the progressive game network.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the status is presented in an HTML operational status matrix.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the status comprises gaming device, progressive award, and event information.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein a plurality of reports are generated for a handle, a jackpot, an event, a gaming device status and a progressive award status.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the status is reported in a HTML capable browser.

25. The system of claim 20 wherein the reporting and statusing for one or more progressive controllers and one or more progressive game networks comprises a single set of interface pages.

26. A system for configuring and authenticating a progressive game network comprising:

the progressive controller comprising;

a processor coupled to a memory, the memory having machine readable code stored thereon, the machine readable code configured with;

an interrogation routine wherein the interrogation routine reads a plurality of gaming device configuration data from the gaming device and stores the gaming device configuration data within the memory;

an authentication routine, wherein the authentication routine compares a plurality of gaming device configuration data with a plurality of progressive parameter ranges and analyzes a progressive controller configuration to enable game play, generate an alert or generate a fault.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the interrogation routine utilizes a network address unique to the gaming device.

28. The system of claim 26 wherein the progressive setup information obtained from the gaming device selected from the group consisting of percentage, denomination, progressive group, network address and hit frequency.

29. The system of claim 26 wherein the progressive controller is equipped with a key interface which utilizes a programming key to enable modifications to plurality of progressive parameters and a run key to enable operation of a predetermined number of licensed gaming devices coupled with the progressive game network.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the programming key and run key are specifically associated to the progressive controller.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein the predetermined number of licensed gaming devices enabled by the progressive controller resides on a run key, wherein the run key enables operation of at least one gaming device coupled with the progressive game network.