GAMING DEVICE HAVING HARD DRIVE BASED MEDIA AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20110119754A1
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Patel, Pravinkumar, Larsen, Joshua D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,317,608 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/16
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions

Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to a gaming device that uses an internal hard drive for primary media storage. The software is installed on the hard drive without requiring physical access to the hard drive including, but not limited to, removal or replacement of the hard drive. According to one method, an install flash program is used to format and/or reformat an internal hard drive. Additionally, the install flash program is used to install media stored on a removable storage device onto the internal hard drive.

Claims

1. A method for installing content onto an internal hard drive of a gaming device, the method comprising:

detecting whether a removable media is present on the gaming device, wherein the removable media includes one or more programs;

ascertaining whether the one or more programs on the removable media are supported by the gaming device;

presenting instructions on a display, wherein the instructions prompt an operator to turn an attendant key to install the one or more programs;

installing the one or more programs in response to the attendant key being turned; and

presenting a completed installation message on the display after the one or more programs are successfully installed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying progress of the installation of one or more programs.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting an option to format the internal hard drive when no removable media is present on a gaming device; and

formatting the internal hard drive in response to the attendant key being turned.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising authenticating the one or more programs on the removable media after detecting the removable media.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising clearing NVRAM and EEPROM prior to detecting presence of the removable media.

6. A method for installing one or more software programs onto an internal hard drive of a gaming device, the method comprising:

initializing the gaming device;

clearing NVRAM and EEPROM of the gaming device;

detecting whether a removable media is present on the gaming device, wherein the removable media includes software;

presenting an installation menu on a display, wherein the installation menu includes options to install one or more software programs, remove one or more software programs, test hardware, or reformat the internal hard drive; and

installing a software program onto the internal hard drive from the removable media in response to operator input.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein initializing the gaming device further comprises:

reading part numbers and version of Jurisdiction EEPROM, BIOS, and one or more removable media; and

displaying the part numbers and version of Jurisdiction EEPROM, BIOS, and one or more removable media.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising authenticating the software program on the removable media.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the software programs comprises a plurality of games.

10. A method for installing software onto an internal hard drive of a gaming device, the method comprising:

determining whether a second compact flash is present on the gaming device;

presenting an option to format or reformat the internal hard drive when the second compact flash is not present on the gaming device; and

installing media from the second compact flash onto the internal hard drive, wherein the internal hard drive is a primary storage device for media.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising ascertaining whether the media on the second compact flash is supported by the gaming device.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein presenting the option to foiinat or reformat the internal hard drive further comprises prompting an operator for conformation to install the media from the second compact flash onto the internal hard drive.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising authenticating the media installed on the internal hard drive.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the media is game software.

15. A method for installing one or more game onto an internal hard drive of a gaming device, the method comprising:

presenting an installation menu on a display, wherein the installation menu includes an option to access one or more games from a remote host;

obtaining the one or more games in response to operator input; and

installing the one or more games onto the internal hard drive.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein obtaining the one or more games comprises downloading the game from the remote host.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

authorizing the operator; and

logging a download transaction on the internal hard drive.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein obtaining the one or more games comprises:

establishing a connection between the gaming device and the remote server; and

running the game from the remote server.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the connection is a secure connection.