Architecture for manufacturing authenticatable gaming systems

• US 7,487,352 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Issued: 02/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Ling Tony, Multerer, Boyd C.
• Primary Examiner(s): JUNG, DAVID YIUK
• Application Number:
  US11/047,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20050129237A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,464 Days
• Field of Search: 713/168, 380/259, 380/282, 380/251, 463/36
• US Class Current: 713/168
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/335 using Internet
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/33 using certificates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user

Abstract

An architecture is described to manufacture console-based gaming systems in a manner that allows them to be authenticated to a remote entity for online participation. The architecture involves placing pre-established secrets on the game console during console manufacturing that may be subsequently used to guarantee the authenticity of the game console during registration time.

Claims

1. A method for registering a game console having at least programmatically accessible memory and network interfacing capability to enable access to a network, comprising:

receiving a symmetric key and a console ID from the game console;

locating a record using the console ID, the record containing an encrypted symmetric key in which an original symmetric key assigned to the game console during manufacturing is encrypted;

decrypting the encrypted symmetric key found in the record; and

evaluating the original symmetric key recovered from the encrypted symmetric key with the symmetric key received from the game console as a basis for authenticating the game console.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the original symmetric key is encrypted using a public key cipher and a public key of a public key pair and the decrypting comprises decrypting the symmetric key using the public key cipher and a private key of the public key pair.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the original symmetric key is encrypted using a symmetric key cipher and the decrypting comprises decrypting the symmetric key using the symmetric key cipher.

4. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, perform the method as recited in claim 1.

5. A computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to:

receive a proffered symmetric key and a console ID from a game console having at least programmatically accessible memory and network interfacing capability to enable access to a network;

retrieve, using the console ID, an original symmetric key recorded into the game console during manufacturing; and

compare the proffered symmetric key received from the game console with the original symmetric key to determine whether the game console is authentic.

6. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 5, wherein the copy of the symmetric key is encrypted and further comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct the computing system to decrypt the copy of the original symmetric key.