Gaming Device Security Mechanism

• US 20100255902A1
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Goldstein, Floyd R., Goodman, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,892,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/10 Usage protection of distributed data files
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

At least one aspect disclosed herein relates to a wager-based gaming device which includes a security monitoring and reporting system. In at least one embodiment, the security monitoring/reporting system may be configured or designed to automatically monitor various conditions, events, and/or activities at the gaming device for various types of security-related issues, and to automatically and/or dynamically report the detection of security-related issues to one or more devices, systems and/or other entities.

Claims

1. A gaming device in a casino gaming network, comprising:

a gaming controller;

memory;

a first display;

at least one interface for communicating with at least one other device in the gaming network;

a gaming device housing including a door, said door movable between an open position and a closed position, said housing when said door is in said closed position defining an interior area housing one or more devices and said door in said open position permitting access to said interior area;

a first security system disposed at the interior area, the first security system including a first processor, first memory, first portable power source, at least one interface including a first wireless communication interface, and at least one sensor including a first sensor;

the gaming device being operable to control a wager-based game played at the gaming device;

the first security system being operable to;

monitor events and/or conditions at the gaming device for detection of at least one security-related event and/or condition;

automatically update a current power mode of operation of the security system;

record selected information associated with events and/or conditions detected at the gaming device;

engage in wireless communication with a first remote system which is located external to the gaming device; and

implement commands or instructions received from the first remote system.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first security system is further operable to:

acquire selected information relating to the gaming device, the selected information including at least a portion of information selected from a group consisting of;

historical game data, game state data, wager related data, gaming device state information, gaming device movement data, security information, fault-related information, gaming device ID information, timestamp information, and security system ID information.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first security system is further operable to:

transmit, in response to detection of a first security-related event or condition at the gaming device, selected information to the first remote system;

wherein the selected information includes at least a portion of information selected from a group consisting of;

historical game data, game state data, wager related data, gaming device state information, gaming device movement data, security information, fault-related information, gaming device ID information, timestamp information, and security system ID information.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first security system is further operable to:

take action, in response to detection of a first security-related event or condition at the gaming device, to preserve selected information relating to the gaming device, wherein the selected information includes at least a portion of information selected from a group consisting of;

historical game data, game state data, wager related data, gaming device state information, gaming device movement data, security information, fault-related information, gaming device ID information, timestamp information, and security system ID information.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first security system is further operable to:

initiate, in response to detection of a first security-related event or condition at the gaming device, at least one first action for shutting down one or more components of the gaming device.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first security system is further operable to:

initiate, in response to detection of a first security-related event or condition at the gaming device, at least one first action for disabling game play at the gaming device.

7. The gaming device of claim 1:

wherein the least one security-related event and/or condition includes at least one condition or event selected from a group consisting of;

detection a first event at the gaming device which meets or exceeds specified threshold criteria, detection a first condition at the gaming device which meets or exceeds specified threshold criteria, detection of an event or condition at the gaming device which may result in damage to the gaming device, detection of an event or condition at the gaming device which may result in loss or altering of information stored at the gaming device, detection of an unauthorized event or condition at the gaming device, detection of an event or condition at the gaming device which relates to an access of the interior area of the gaming device, detection of an event or condition at the gaming device which relates to access of cash stored at the gaming device, and detection of a fault-related event or condition at the gaming device.

8. The gaming device of claim 1 further comprising an input mechanism for receiving cash or an indicia of credit.

9. The gaming device of claim 1 further comprising:

means for monitoring events and/or conditions at the gaming device for detection of at least one security-related event and/or condition;

means for automatically updating a current power mode of operation of the security system;

means for recording selected information associated with events and/or conditions detected at the gaming device;

means for engaging in wireless communication with a first remote system which is located external to the gaming device; and

means for implementing commands or instructions received from the first remote system.

10. A gaming device for use in a casino gaming network, comprising:

a gaming controller;

memory;

a first display;

at least one interface for communicating with at least one other device in the gaming network; and

a first security system;

the gaming device being operable to control a wager-based game played at the hand held device;

the first security system being operable to;

detect a first event relating to the gaming device, the first detected event having associated therewith a first set of data;

analyze the first set of data with respect to a first set of criteria in order to evaluate whether the first detected event corresponds to a critical security event which meets or exceeds specified threshold security criteria;

perform at least one action in response to determining that the first event corresponds to a critical security event, wherein the at least one action includes recording selected information associated with the critical security event in non-volatile memory, and transmitting, via a wireless communication protocol, selected information relating to the critical security event to a first remote system which is located external to the gaming device.

11. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the first security system is further operable to:

acquire selected information relating to the gaming device, the selected information including at least a portion of information selected from a group consisting of;

historical game data, game state data, wager related data, gaming device state information, gaming device movement data, security information, fault-related information, gaming device ID information, timestamp information, and security system ID information.

12. The gaming device of claim 10 wherein the selected information includes at least a portion of information selected from a group consisting of:

historical game data, game state data, wager related data, gaming device state information, gaming device movement data, security information, fault-related information, gaming device ID information, timestamp information, and security system ID information.

13. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the first security system is further operable to:

take action, in response to detection of a first critical security event or condition at the gaming device, to preserve selected information relating to the gaming device, wherein the selected information includes at least a portion of information selected from a group consisting of;

historical game data, game state data, wager related data, gaming device state information, gaming device movement data, security information, fault-related information, gaming device ID information, timestamp information, and security system ID information.

14. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the first security system is further operable to:

initiate, in response to detection of a first critical security event or condition at the gaming device, at least one first action for shutting down one or more components of the gaming device.

15. The gaming device of claim 10, wherein the first security system is further operable to:

initiate, in response to detection of a first critical security event or condition at the gaming device, at least one first action for disabling game play at the gaming device.

16. The gaming device of claim 10:

wherein the first event corresponds includes at least one condition or event selected from a group consisting of;

detection a first event at the gaming device which meets or exceeds specified threshold criteria, detection a first condition at the gaming device which meets or exceeds specified threshold criteria, detection of an event or condition at the gaming device which may result in damage to the gaming device, detection of an event or condition at the gaming device which may result in loss or altering of information stored at the gaming device, detection of an unauthorized event or condition at the gaming device, detection of an event or condition at the gaming device which relates to an access of the interior area of the gaming device, detection of an event or condition at the gaming device which relates to access of cash stored at the gaming device, and detection of a fault-related event or condition at the gaming device.

17. The gaming device of claim 10 further comprising:

means for detecting a first event relating to the gaming device, the first detected event having associated therewith a first set of data;

means for analyzing the first set of data with respect to a first set of criteria in order to evaluate whether the first detected event corresponds to a critical security event which meets or exceeds specified threshold security criteria; and

means for performing at least one action in response to determining that the first event corresponds to a critical security event, wherein the at least one action includes recording selected information associated with the critical security event in non-volatile memory, and transmitting, via a wireless communication protocol, selected information relating to the critical security event to a first remote system which is located external to the gaming device.

18. A method for operating a gaming device in a casino gaming network, the gaming device including a gaming controller, memory, a first display, at least one interface, a gaming device housing including a door, said door being movable between an open position and a closed position, said housing when said door is in said closed position defining an interior area housing one or more devices and said door in said open position permitting access to said interior area, a first security system disposed at the interior area, the first security system including a first processor, first memory, first portable power source, at least one interface including a first wireless communication interface, and at least one sensor including a first sensor, the method comprising:

controlling a wager-based game played at the gaming device;

monitoring events and/or conditions at the gaming device for detection of at least one security-related event and/or condition;

automatically updating a current power mode of operation of the security system;

recording selected information associated with events and/or conditions detected at the gaming device;

engaging in wireless communication with a first remote system which is located external to the gaming device; and

implementing commands or instructions received from the first remote system.

19. A method for operating a gaming device in a casino gaming network, the gaming device including a gaming controller, memory, a first display, at least one interface, and a first security system, the method comprising:

controlling a wager-based game played at the gaming device;

detecting a first event relating to the gaming device, the first detected event having associated therewith a first set of data;

analyzing the first set of data with respect to a first set of criteria in order to evaluate whether the first detected event corresponds to a critical security event which meets or exceeds specified threshold security criteria; and

performing at least one action in response to determining that the first event corresponds to a critical security event, wherein the at least one action includes recording selected information associated with the critical security event in non-volatile memory, and transmitting, via a wireless communication protocol, selected information relating to the critical security event to a first remote system which is located external to the gaming device.