Method and apparatus for authenticating and verifying communication on a network of gaming devices
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of transmitting a command in a gaming network, the method comprising:
- generating a command originating at a master server or a slave server;
digitally signing the command by performing a hashing function over at least a portion of a message that includes the command to produce a message digest and passing the message digest through a digital signature algorithm to produce a digitally signed command including a current session key from a series of session keys, the current session key being associated with a current session index so that a first receiving node can determine the session key used, an updated session index being periodically broadcast in plain text over the gaming network to a plurality of receiving nodes including the first receiving node, the first receiving node periodically comparing the current session index to the updated session index, and the first receiving node requesting an updated session key when the current session index does not match the updated session index, at least two of the plurality of receiving nodes using the same series of session keys;
transmitting the digitally signed command from a transmitting node at the master server or slave server to the first receiving node for verification wherein the digitally signed command from the transmitting node is subjected to the hashing function to produce a message digest, the message digest is passed through the digital signature algorithm to produce a digitally signed command at the first receiving node, and the digitally signed command at the first receiving node is compared to the digitally signed command from the transmitting mode to determine if there is a match; and
performing an action at the first receiving node in response to the command only if the digitally signed command at the first receiving node matches the digitally signed command from the transmitting node.
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Abstract
A method to transmit commands across a gaming network is implemented with digitally signed messages. The command messages are generated upon a triggering event, such as the winning of a bonus. The messages are digitally signed by the transmitting node and transmitted to the subservient device. When the subservient device receives the message, it verifies the signature and executes the command. If the signature does not verify, the subservient device may raise an alarm.
281 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of transmitting a command in a gaming network, the method comprising:
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generating a command originating at a master server or a slave server; digitally signing the command by performing a hashing function over at least a portion of a message that includes the command to produce a message digest and passing the message digest through a digital signature algorithm to produce a digitally signed command including a current session key from a series of session keys, the current session key being associated with a current session index so that a first receiving node can determine the session key used, an updated session index being periodically broadcast in plain text over the gaming network to a plurality of receiving nodes including the first receiving node, the first receiving node periodically comparing the current session index to the updated session index, and the first receiving node requesting an updated session key when the current session index does not match the updated session index, at least two of the plurality of receiving nodes using the same series of session keys; transmitting the digitally signed command from a transmitting node at the master server or slave server to the first receiving node for verification wherein the digitally signed command from the transmitting node is subjected to the hashing function to produce a message digest, the message digest is passed through the digital signature algorithm to produce a digitally signed command at the first receiving node, and the digitally signed command at the first receiving node is compared to the digitally signed command from the transmitting mode to determine if there is a match; and performing an action at the first receiving node in response to the command only if the digitally signed command at the first receiving node matches the digitally signed command from the transmitting node. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of awarding a bonus in a gaming network, the method comprising:
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generating a bonus command originating at a master server or slave server; digitally signing the bonus command by performing a hashing function over at least a portion of a message that includes the bonus command to produce a message digest and then passing the message digest through a digital signature algorithm to produce a digitally signed bonus command including a current session key from a series of session keys, the current session key being associated with a current session index so that a first electronic gaming machine can determine the session key used, an updated session index being periodically broadcast in plain text over the gaming network to a group of electronic gaming machines including the first electronic gaming machine, the first electronic gaming machine periodically comparing the current session index to the updated session index, and the first electronic gaming machine requesting an updated session key when the current session index does not match the updated session index, at least two of the electronic gaming machines using the same series of session keys; transmitting the digitally signed bonus command from a transmitting node at the master server or slave server to the first electronic gaming machine wherein the digitally signed bonus command from the transmitting mode is subjected to the hashing function to produce a message digest, the message digest is passed through the digital signature algorithm to produce a digitally signed bonus command at the first electronic gaming machine, and the digitally signed bonus command at the first electronic gaming machine is compared to the digitally signed bonus command from the transmitting node to determine if they match; and paying a bonus at the gaming machine in response to the bonus command only if the digitally signed bonus command at the first electronic gaming machine matches the digitally signed bonus command from the transmitting node. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of verifying a command in a gaming network, the method comprising:
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receiving a command message with a digital signature at a first subservient device in a gaming network, the command message including a session key from a series of session keys, the current session key being associated with a current session index so that the first subservient device can determine the session key used, an updated session index being periodically broadcast in plain text over the gaming network to a group of subservient devices including the first subservient device, the first subservient device periodically comparing the current session index to the updated session index, and the first subservient device requesting an updated session key when the current session index does not match the updated session index, at least two of the subservient devices using the same series of session keys; verifying the digital signature at the first subservient device by subjecting the command message to a hashing function to produce a message digest, passing the message digest through a digital signature algorithm to produce a digital signature at the first subservient device, and comparing the digital signature at the first subservient device to the digital signature included with the command message to determine if there is a match; and executing the command message at the first subservient device only if the digital signature at the first subservient device matches the digital signature included with the command message. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of verifying a bonus in a gaming network, the method comprising:
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receiving a bonus message with a digital signature at a first subservient device in a gaming network, the bonus message including a session key from a series of session keys, the current session key being associated with a current session index so that the first subservient device can determine the session key, an updated session index being periodically broadcast in plain text over the gaming network to a group of subservient devices including the first subservient device, the first subservient device periodically comparing the current session index to the updated session index, and the first subservient device requesting an updated session key when the current session index does not match the updated session index, at least two of the subservient devices using the same series of session keys; verifying the digital signature at the first subservient device by subjecting the bonus message to a hashing function to produce a message digest, passing the message digest through a digital signature algorithm to produce a digital signature at the first subservient device, and comparing the digital signature at the first subservient device to the digital signal included with the bonus message to determine if there is a match; and paying a bonus specified in the bonus message at the first subservient device, if the digital signature at the first subservient device matches the digital signal included with the bonus message. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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Specification