NETWORK INTERFACE, GAMING SYSTEM AND GAMING DEVICE

• US 20100048304A1
• Filed: 08/21/2009
• Published: 02/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia PTY Limited (Aristocrat Leisure Limited)
• Inventors: Boesen, John Leslie
• Application Number:
  US12/545,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20100048304A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• 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 example gaming device and network interface device adapted to connect a gaming device to a network are provided. The network interface device includes a data handler and a firewall. The data handler has processing and memory resources, and is adapted to perform data handling functions for transferring data between a network and a gaming device controller. The firewall is adapted to inhibit transfer of at least some unauthorised data received from the network to the gaming device controller.

Claims

1. A network interface device adapted to connect a gaming device to a network, the network interface device comprising:

a data handler having processing and memory resources, the data handler being adapted to perform data handling functions for transferring data between a network and a gaming device controller; and

a firewall adapted to inhibit transfer of at least some unauthorised data received from the network to the gaming device controller.

2. A network interface device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the firewall uses processing and memory resources which are independent of the gaming device controller.

3. A network interface device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the firewall is implemented as a function of the data handler.

4. A network interface device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the data handler is implemented using one or more of a digital signal processor, micro-controller, microprocessor, microcomputer or FPGA.

5. A network interface device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the firewall determines whether to allow or deny data transfer based on fire wall rules.

6. A network interface device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the data handler is programmable to update firewall rules.

7. A network interface device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a first data port adapted for establishing a data connection with a network; and

a second data port for establishing a data connection with a controller of a gaming device.

8. A network interface device as claimed in claim 7 wherein the first data port is an Ethernet port.

9. A network interface device as claimed in claim 8 wherein the second data port is a serial data port.

10. A network interface as claimed in claim 9 wherein the data handler is further adapted to convert packetized data received from the network to serial data for outputting to the device controller.

11. A network interface device as claimed in claim 7 implemented as a network interface card adapted for installation into a gaming device.

12. A network interface device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the network interface card is an Ethernet card.

13. A network interface device as claimed in claim 11 wherein the gaming device for which the network interface card is adapted is any one or more of a gaming machine, a gaming server, a game controller, a game tournament controller, a bonus server, a player interface module or a player tracking module.

14. A gaming device comprising:

a controller adapted to execute game functions; and

a network interface comprising;

a data handler having processing resources independent of the controller, the data handler being adapted to perform data handling functions for transferring of data between the network and the controller, and

a firewall adapted to inhibit transfer of at least some unauthorised data received from the network to the controller.

15. A gaming device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the firewall is implemented using processing and memory resources which are independent of the controller.

16. A gaming device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the firewall is implemented as a function of the data handler.

17. A gaming device as claimed in claim 16 wherein the data handler is implemented using one or more of a digital signal processor, micro-controller, microprocessor, microcomputer or FPGA.

18. A gaming device as claimed in claim 17 wherein the firewall determines whether to allow or deny data transfer based on fire wall rules.

19. A gaming device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the data handler is programmable to update firewall rules.

20. A gaming device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the network interface further comprises:

a first data port adapted for establishing a data connection with a network; and

a second data port for establishing a data connection with the controller.

21. A gaming device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the first data port is an Ethernet port.

22. A gaming device as claimed in claim 21 wherein the second data port is a serial data port.

23. A gaming device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the network interface is a network interface card.

24. A gaming device as claimed in claim 23 wherein the network interface card is an Ethernet card.

25. A gaming device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the gaming device is a gaming machine, a gaming server, a game controller, a game tournament controller, a bonus server, a player interface module or a player tracking module.

26. A networked gaming system comprising:

one or more gaming devices connected for data communication via a network, wherein at least one gaming devices comprises;

a controller adapted to execute game functions; and

a network interface comprising;

a data handler having processing resources independent of the controller, the data handler being adapted to perform data handling functions for transferring of data between the network and the controller, and

a firewall adapted to inhibit transfer of at least some unauthorised data received from the network to the controller.

27. A networked gaming system as claimed in claim 26 wherein each gaming device connected via the network includes a network interface having a firewall.

28. A method of enhancing security in a networked gaming system, the method comprising providing a firewall adapted to operate during reception of data from a network to inhibit at least some unauthorised data being transferred to a gaming device controller.

29. A method as claimed in claim 28 further comprising the step of providing a gaming device with a network interface card having data handling processing resources independent of processing resources used by the gaming device for executing gaming functions, wherein the data handling processing resources are used for:

receiving data from the network;

applying firewall rules to inhibit or allow data; and

transferring any allowed data to the gaming device controller.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29 wherein the network interface card is an Ethernet card.

31. A method as claimed in claim 29 further comprising the step of updating firewall rules.

32. A computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions which when executed by a processor of a network interface card cause the processor to implement a method of enhancing security in a networked gaming system, the method comprising providing a firewall adapted to operate during reception of data from a network to inhibit at least some unauthorised data being transferred to a gaming device controller.

33. A processor device for a network interface programmed with instructions which when executed cause the processor device to implement a method of enhancing security in a networked gaming system, the method comprising providing a firewall adapted to operate during reception of data from a network to inhibit at least some unauthorised data being transferred to a gaming device controller.