Random number generator seeding method and apparatus

• US 6,502,116 B1
• Filed: 09/14/1999
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: McLoughlin, Bruce, Kelly, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGO, CHUONG D
• Application Number:
  US09/396,135
• Time in Patent Office: 1,204 Days
• Field of Search: 708/250, 708/251, 708/252, 708/253, 708/254, 708/255, 708/256, 463/16
• US Class Current: 708/250
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/582 Pseudo-random number generators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/588 Random number generators, i.e. based on natural stochastic processes

Abstract

A random number generator seeding method and apparatus which includes the provision of an RNG seed register and means for capturing a current count number from one or more fast running counters contained within the apparatus upon the occurrence of an act or acts by an apparatus operator as he performs the normal set-up and initialization function. In the preferred embodiment means are provided for sensing particular acts of the operator, and upon detection of each such “event”, one or more of the counters within the system are read and the count value is appended to previously captured counter values until the desired seed length is obtained. At this time, the RNG is said to be seeded, the initialization phase is completed and the apparatus may be made available to players to commence game play or other use of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A gaming machine, comprising:

a random number generator;

a shift register coupled to the random number generator;

a first counter coupled to the shift register, the first counter that generates a first count signal;

a second counter coupled to the shift register, the second counter that generates a second count signal;

a door having an open position and a closed position;

a touch screen;

a first event sensor coupled to the first counter and the door and that detects when the door moves between the open position and the closed position when the gaming machine is in a set-up initialization phase, wherein the first event sensor, upon detecting that the door has moved between the open position and the closed position, causes the first count signal to be transferred from the first counter to the shift register and causes the contents of the shift register to be shifted;

a second event sensor coupled to the second counter and the touch screen and that detects when a user has touched the touch screen when the gaming machine is in a set-up initialization phase, wherein the second event sensor, upon detecting that the touch screen has been touched, causes the second count signal to be transferred from the second counter to the shift register and causes the contents of the shift register to be shifted; and

a shift register full detector coupled to the shift register and that detects when the shift register is full, wherein the shift register full detector causes at least some of the contents of the shift register to be transferred to the random number generator when the shift register full detector determines that the shift register is full, thereby seeding the random number generator with the contents of the shift register and wherein the shift register full detector disables the first and second event sensors when the shift register full detector determines that the shift register is full.

2. An apparatus for seeding a random number generator, comprising:

a plurality of counters that generate a plurality of count values;

a sensor that senses an event and generates a corresponding event signal;

a seed register coupled to the plurality of counters and responsive to the event signal to operate to capture simultaneously the plurality of count values from the plurality of counters, to concatenate and append the captured plurality of count values to previously captured count values in response to the event signal; and

a seed register full detector coupled to the seed register and that detects when the seed register is full, wherein the seed register full detector causes at least some of the contents of the seed register to be transferred to the random number generator when the seed register full detector determines that the seed register is full, thereby seeding the random number generator with the contents of the seed register and wherein the seed register full detector disables the sensor when the seed register full detector determines that the seed register is full.