Verification system and method

• US 7,730,325 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2004
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Morrow, James, Hein, Marvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Barron, Jr.; Gilberto
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perungavoor; Venkat
• Application Number:
  US10/836,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20050005155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,223 Days
• Field of Search: 713189-194, 713164-167, 713/168, 463/29, 463/43, 725/146, 725152-153, 725/168
• US Class Current: 713/191
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/006 Identification G06F11/2289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2289 by configuration test
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2294 by remote test
• CPC Class Codes: G11C 2029/4402 Internal storage of test result, quality data, chip identification, repair information

Abstract

A verification system has an operational component registry 10 that includes an interface 20, a memory device 30, and a processor 40. Preferably, the interface 20 in the operational component registry 10 communicates the installed identification data 50 from the gaming units 60 to the operational component registry. The memory device 30 preferably stores registered identification data 70 for the gaming units 60. Preferably, the processor 40 in the operational component registry 10 then analyzes the registered identification data 70 and the installed identification data 50 from the gaming units 60, after which enablement of the gaming units is determined based upon the examination of the registered identification data and the installed identification data. An operational component registry 10 may also monitor changes, services, requirements, enablement, and productivity of the gaming units or components of the gaming units.

Claims

1. A verification system utilizing an operational component registry in a gaming environment, the verification system comprising:

a memory device, wherein the memory device stores a catalog of registered identification data for multiple components supposed to be installed on multiple gaming units, wherein the components include hardware and software, and each gaming unit includes multiple components with identification data;

an interface that communicates a catalog of installed identification data for multiple components that are actually installed on the gaming units from the gaming units to the operational component registry; and

a processor that analyzes the registered identification data and the installed identification data of the components installed on the gaming units; and

wherein enablement of the gaming units is determined by examining the registered identification data and the installed identification data.

2. The verification system of claim 1, wherein the registered identification data for the gaming units includes identification data for the components that are supposed to be installed on the gaming units.

3. The verification system of claim 2, wherein the installed identification data for the gaming units includes identification data for the components that are actually installed on the gaming units.

4. The verification system of claim 1, wherein the registered identification data is authenticatible and non-repudiatible.

5. The verification system of claim 3, wherein the registered identification data and the installed identification data for the gaming units includes unique identifiers for each of the components that are supposed to be installed or that are actually installed on a gaming unit.

6. The verification system of claim 5, wherein the registered identification data and installed identification data for the hardware includes data selected from the group of serial numbers, model numbers, part numbers, a manufacture date, location information, an installation date, and a repair date.

7. The verification system of claim 5, wherein the registered identification data and installed identification data for the software includes data selected from the group of globally unique identifiers, version information, licensing information, an installation date, a patch date, a repair date, signature data, hash data, and authentication data.

8. The verification system of claim 1, wherein the operational component registry is resident on a central gaming system to which the gaming units are associated.

9. The verification system of claim 1, wherein the operational component registry is resident on a wide area gaming system to which the gaming units are associated.

10. The verification system of claim 1, wherein the operational component registry is resident on a local area gaming system to which the gaming units are associated.

11. The verification system of claim 1, wherein the operational component registry is resident on a gaming unit.

12. The verification system of claim 1, wherein the operational component registry is utilized in conjunction with additional operational component registries within a system of gaming units.

13. The verification system of claim 1, wherein the operational component registry is remote from the gaming units.

14. The verification system of claim 1, further comprising a update process, wherein the update process includes identification data regarding authorized changes and updates to the components of the gaming units, and wherein the update process is used to amend the operational component registry to include registered identification data for authorized changes and updates to installed components.

15. The verification system of claim 14, wherein the operational component registry is amended at predetermined intervals to include registered identification data for authorized changes and updates to components contained in the update process.

16. The verification system of claim 14, wherein the operational component registry is amended in response to a request to include registered identification data for authorized changes and updates to components contained in the update process.

17. The verification system of claim 1, further comprising a service log, wherein the service log includes information regarding diagnostic and maintenance services performed on components of the gaming units.

18. The verification system of claim 1, further comprising a productivity log, wherein the productivity log includes information regarding productivity of the gaming units.

19. The verification system of claim 1, further comprising a requirements log, wherein the requirements log includes data used to verify whether enablement of a particular component is required for proper operation of the gaming units.

20. The verification system of claim 1, wherein communication of the installed identification data from the gaming units to the operational component registry occurs at predetermined intervals.

21. The verification system of claim 1, wherein communication of the installed identification data from the gaming units to the operational component registry occurs in response to a request.

22. The verification system of claim 1, further comprising at least one user access port, wherein the access port is configured to provide access to the operational component registry.

23. The verification system of claim 1, wherein the processor examines the registered identification data and the installed identification data, determines whether the registered identification data corresponds with the installed identification data, and identifies corresponding and non-corresponding identification data for each component of the gaming units.

24. The verification system of claim 23, wherein an update process is used to update the registered identification data with authorized changes and updates to the components in response to a determination that the registered identification data and the installed identification data do not correspond to each other.

25. The verification system of claim 23, wherein gaming units having components with non-corresponding identification data are not enabled.

26. The verification system of claim 23, wherein gaming units having corresponding identification data for all components are enabled.

27. The verification system of claim 25, wherein the non-enablement of one or more non-corresponding components of a gaming unit initiates a determination of whether enablement of the gaming unit is prevented.

28. The verification system of claim 23, wherein enablement of a gaming unit is permitted regardless of whether any components having non-corresponding identification data are identified in the gaming unit.

29. The verification system of claim 25, further comprising an enablement log, wherein the enablement log includes data regarding enablement or non-enablement of the gaming units and of individual components of the gaming units.

30. The verification system of claim 1, wherein one or more gaming machine system components are assigned identification codes and are grouped together into a protected group of component bindings using cryptographic security procedures and the identification codes of the components in the bindings group, and wherein the bindings prevent falsification or repudiation of log entries with respect to any modifications or replacements of components within the bindings group.

31. A verification system in a gaming environment comprising:

a memory device that stores a catalog of registered identification data, wherein the registered identification data comprises identification data for components supposed to be installed on multiple gaming units; and

the memory device stores a catalog of installed identification data, wherein the installed identification data comprises identification data for multiple components that are actually installed on the gaming units, and each gaming unit includes multiple components with identification data;

wherein the components include hardware and software.

32. The verification system of claim 31, wherein at least one of the registered identification data and the installed identification data is authenticatible and non-repudiatible.

33. The verification system of claim 31, further comprising a processor that analyzes the registered identification data and the installed identification data.

34. The verification system of claim 31 further comprising an interface between the operational component registry and the gaming units.

35. The verification system of claim 34, wherein the interface is a network interface connecting the operational component registry with remote gaming units.

36. The verification system of claim 31, wherein installed identification data is communicated to the operational component registry at predetermined intervals.

37. The verification system of claim 31, wherein installed identification data is communicated to the operational component registry in response to a triggering event.

38. The verification system of claim 31, wherein enablement of the gaming units is determined by examining the registered identification data and the installed identification data.

39. The verification system of claim 31, wherein enablement of individual components on the gaming units is determined by examining the registered identification data and the installed identification data.

40. The verification system of claim 39, wherein the registered identification data and the installed identification data each comprise unique identifiers for each component that is supposed to be installed or that is actually installed on the gaming units.

41. The verification system of claim 40, wherein the registered identification data and the installed identification data are provided for each component, the components including hardware and software;

wherein the identification data for the hardware includes at least one of serial numbers, model numbers, part numbers, a manufacture date, location information, an installation date, or repair date; and

wherein the identification data for the software includes at least one of globally unique identifiers, version information, licensing information, an installation date, a patch date, a repair date, signature data, hash data, and authentication data.

42. The verification system of claim 31, wherein the operational component registry is resident on a central gaming system.

43. The verification system of claim 31, wherein the operational component registry is resident on a wide area gaming system.

44. The verification system of claim 31, wherein the operational component registry is resident on a local area gaming system.

45. The verification system of claim 31, wherein the operational component registry is resident on a gaming unit.

46. The verification system of claim 31, wherein the operational component registry is utilized in conjunction with additional operational component registries within a system of gaming units.

47. The verification system of claim 31, further comprising an update process, wherein the update process includes identification data regarding authorized changes and updates to components listed therein.

48. The verification system of claim 47, wherein the registered identification data is amended with the update process, and the amended registered identification data reflects authorized changes and updates to registered components.

49. This verification system of claim 48, wherein amendment of the registered identification data occurs at predetermined intervals.

50. The verification system of claim 48, wherein the amendment of the registered identification data occurs in response to a triggering event.

51. The verification system of claim 31, further comprising a service log, wherein the service log includes data regarding diagnostic and maintenance services performed on components.

52. The verification system of claim 51, wherein data on the service log includes installed identification data for installed components, and the installed identification data is communicated to the change log.

53. The verification system of claim 31, further comprising a productivity log, the productivity log including productivity data for the gaming units, wherein the productivity data is searchable, manipulable, and used to generate gaming unit productivity reports.

54. The verification system of claim 31, further comprising a requirements log, the requirements log including requirements data for the gaming units.

55. The verification system of claim 54, wherein the requirements data is used to determine whether enablement of a gaming unit is predicated on enablement of the components in the gaming unit.

56. The verification system of claim 54, wherein the requirements data is used to determine whether enablement of the components is required for proper operation of the gaming units.

57. The verification system of claim 31, wherein the registered identification data and the installed identification data are examined, and corresponding identification data and non-corresponding identification data are identified for each component of the gaming units.

58. The verification system of claim 57, wherein an update process is used to update the registered identification data if non-corresponding identification data is identified for components of the gaming units, and wherein the updated registered identification data and the installed identification data are then re-examined.

59. The verification system of claim 57, wherein gaming units having components with non-corresponding identification data are not enabled, and gaming units having all components with corresponding identification data are enabled.

60. The verification system of claim 57, wherein the non-enablement of one or more non-corresponding components of a gaming unit initiates a determination of whether enablement of the gaming unit is prevented.

61. The verification system of claim 57, wherein enablement of a gaming unit is permitted regardless of whether any components having non-corresponding identification data are identified in the gaming unit.

62. The verification system of claim 31, further comprising an enablement log, the enablement log including data regarding enablement or non-enablement of gaming units, and the enablement log including data regarding enablement or non-enablement of individual components of the gaming units.

63. The verification system of claim 57, wherein components with non-corresponding identification data are not enabled, and a requirements log is used to determine whether gaming units including the non-enabled components may be enabled.

64. A method for verifying multiple components of multiple gaming units using an operational component registry in a gaming environment, the method comprising:

selecting gaming units for verification;

establishing communication with the selected gaming units;

receiving installed identification data at the operational component registry from the selected gaming units as to components actually installed on the selected gaming units, wherein each component includes hardware and software, and each gaming unit includes multiple components with identification data; and

examining the installed identification data and registered identification data stored to determine enablement of the gaming units, wherein the registered identification data includes identification data for components supposed to be installed on the selected gaming units.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the selected gaming units are remote from the operational component registry.

66. The method of claim 64, wherein the operational component registry is resident on a central gaming system to which at least one of the selected gaming units is connected.

67. The method of claim 64, wherein the operational component registry is resident on a wide area gaming system to which at least one of the selected gaming units is connected.

68. The method of claim 64, wherein the operational component registry is resident on a local area gaming system to which at least one of the selected gaming units is connected.

69. The method of claim 64, wherein the operational component registry is resident on at least one of the selected gaming units.

70. The method of claim 64, wherein the operational component registry is utilized in conjunction with additional operational component registries within a system of gaming units.

71. The method of claim 64, wherein the operational component registry and the selected gaming units communicate via an interface.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the interface comprises a network interface.

73. The method of claim 64, wherein the installed identification data is communicated to the operational component registry at predetermined intervals.

74. The method of claim 64, wherein the installed identification data is communicated to the operational component registry in response to a request.

75. The method of claim 64, wherein the installed identification data is communicated to the operational component registry in response to a triggering event.

76. The method of claim 64, wherein examination of the installed identification data and the registered identification data is performed by a processor that is associated with the operational component registry.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein at least one of the registered identification data and the installed identification data are authenticatible and non-repudiatible.

78. The method of claim 64, wherein examination of the installed identification data and the registered identification data includes determining whether the registered identification data corresponds to the installed identification data.

79. The method of claim 78, further comprising:

determining corresponding and non-corresponding identification data for each component of the gaming units.

80. The method of claim 78, wherein the operational component registry further comprises an update process, wherein the update process is used to update the registered identification data with authorized changes to the registered components on the gaming units;

and wherein the updated registered identification data and the installed identification data are then examined.

81. The method of claim 79, wherein gaming units having components with non-corresponding identification data are not enabled, and gaming units having corresponding identification data for all components are enabled.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein enablement of a gaming unit is permitted regardless of whether any components having non-corresponding identification data are identified in the gaming unit, and regardless of whether any components having non-corresponding identification data are non-enabled in the gaming unit.

83. The method of claim 64, further comprising an enablement log, wherein the enablement log includes data regarding the enablement or non-enablement of the gaming units and of individual components of the gaming units.

84. The method of claim 81, further comprising a requirements log, wherein the requirements log is used to determine whether to enable gaming units that include non-enabled components.

85. The method of claim 64, further comprising a service log, wherein the service log includes service data regarding diagnostic and maintenance services performed on components of the gaming units, and wherein the service data is communicated from the gaming units to the operational component registry.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the service log includes installed identification data for installed components, and wherein the installed identification data is communicated from the gaming units to a service log on the operational component registry.

87. The method of claim 64, further comprising a productivity log, wherein the productivity log includes productivity data for the gaming units, and wherein the productivity data is communicated from the gaming units to the operational component registry.

88. A method for verifying and selectively enabling gaming units, the method comprising:

receiving installed identification data from multiple gaming units at an operational component registry through an interface located on the operational component registry, wherein the operational component registry includes registered identification data for components supposed to be installed on the gaming units and installed identification data for multiple components that are actually installed on the multiple gaming units, and the components include hardware and software, and each gaming unit includes multiple components with identification data;

storing registered identification data on a memory device located within the operational component registry; and

examining the registered identification data and the installed identification data using a processor located in the operational component registry to determine enablement of the gaming units.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein the registered identification data includes identification data for components that are supposed to be installed on the gaming units, and

wherein the installed identification data includes identification data for components that are actually installed on the gaming units.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein the installed identification data is communicated from the gaming units to the operational component registry via the interface.

91. The method of claim 88, wherein the interface between the operational component registry and the gaming units is a network interface.

92. The method of claim 88, wherein the registered identification data and the installed identification data for the hardware include at least one of serial numbers, model numbers, part numbers, a manufacture date, location information, an installation date or a repair date;

and

wherein the registered identification data and the installed identification data for the software include at least one of globally unique identifiers, version information, licensing information, an installation date, patch date, a repair date, signature data, hash data, and authentication data.

93. The method of claim 88, wherein one or more operational component registries are resident on at least one of a central gaming system, wide area gaming system, and local area gaming system.

94. The method of claim 88, wherein an operational component registry is utilized in conjunction with additional operational component registries on at least one or more gaming units.

95. The method of claim 88, wherein the memory device that stores the registered identification data is remote from the operational component registry.

96. The method of claim 88, further comprising:

determining whether the registered identification data corresponding the installed identification data.

97. The method of claim 88, further comprising:

determining corresponding and non-corresponding identification data for each component of the gaming units.

98. The method of claim 96, further comprising providing an update process, wherein the update process includes data regarding authorized changes and updates to the components, wherein data from the update process is used to update the registered identification data, and wherein the updated registered identification data and the installed identification data are then re-examined.

99. The method of claim 98, wherein the registered identification data is updated with the update process data at predetermined intervals.

100. The method of claim 98, wherein the registered identification data is updated with the update process data in response to a request.

101. The method of claim 98, wherein the registered identification data is updated with the update process data in response to a triggering event.

102. The method of claim 98, wherein the registered identification data is updated with the update process data at least once following the determination of non-corresponding identification data for components of the gaming units.

103. The method of claim 96, further comprising:

determining whether to enable the gaming units, wherein the corresponding and non-corresponding identification data for the components of the gaming units are used to determine whether to enable gaming units, wherein gaming units having components with non-corresponding identification data are not enabled, and wherein gaming units having components with all corresponding identification data are enabled.

104. The method of claim 96, further comprising:

selecting individual gaming units for enablement, wherein the gaming units have corresponding identification data.

105. The method of claim 96, further comprising:

selecting individual components of the gaming units for enablement, wherein the components have corresponding identification data.

106. The method of claim 96, further comprising:

determining whether to permit enablement of gaming units including one or more components that have non-corresponding identification data and are not enabled.

107. The method of claim 106, wherein enablement of a gaming unit is permitted regardless of whether any components having non-corresponding identification data are identified in the gaming unit.

108. The method of claim 96, further comprising an enablement log, wherein the enablement log includes data regarding enablement or non-enablement of the gaming units and of individual components of the gaming units.

109. The method of claim 96, further comprising a requirements log, wherein the requirements log includes data used to verify whether enablement of non-enabled components is required for proper operation of gaming units, and wherein the requirements log is used to prevent enablement of the gaming units if a non-enabled component is required.

110. The method of claim 96, further comprising:

assigning identification codes to gaming machine system components within a gaming unit;

binding together one or more gaming machine system components within the gaming unit, including registered identification data and installed identification data, into a protected group of component bindings using cryptographic security procedures and the identification codes of the components in the bindings group, and wherein the bindings prevent falsification or repudiation of log entries with respect to any modifications or replacements of components within the binding group.

111. A verification system utilizing an operational component registry, the verification system comprising:

a memory device, wherein the memory device stores registered identification data for multiple components supposed to be installed on multiple gaming units, and wherein the components include hardware and software, and each gaming unit includes multiple components with identification data;

an interface that communicates installed identification data from the gaming units to the operational component registry, wherein the installed identification data includes identification data for multiple components actually installed on the gaming units; and

a processor that analyzes the registered identification data and the installed identification data of the components installed on the gaming units; and

wherein enablement of the gaming units is determined by examining the registered identification data and the installed identification data; and

wherein gaming machine system components are assigned identification codes and are grouped together into a protected group of component bindings using cryptographic security procedures and the identification codes of the components in the bindings group, and wherein the bindings prevent falsification or repudiation of log entries with respect to any modifications or replacements of components within the bindings group.

112. A verification system utilizing an operational component registry, the verification system comprising:

a memory device that stores a catalog of registered identification data, wherein the registered identification data comprises identification data for multiple components supposed to be installed on multiple gaming units, and wherein the components include hardware and software, and each gaming unit includes multiple components with identification data; and

the memory device stores a catalog of installed identification data, wherein the installed identification data comprises identification data for components that are actually installed on the gaming units; and

wherein gaming machine system components, including at least one of the catalogs, are assigned identification codes and are grouped together into a protected group of component bindings using cryptographic security procedures and the identification codes of the components in the bindings group, and wherein the bindings prevent falsification or repudiation of log entries with respect to any modifications or replacements of components within the binding group.

113. A method for verifying components of gaming units using an operational component registry, the method comprising:

assigning identification codes to multiple gaming machine system components within multiple gaming units, wherein the components include hardware and software, and each gaming unit includes multiple components with identification codes;

binding together gaming machine system components within the gaming unit, including registered identification data and installed identification data, into a protected group of component bindings using cryptographic security procedures and the identification codes of the components in the bindings group, and wherein the bindings prevent falsification or repudiation of log entries with respect to any modifications or replacements of components within the binding group;

selecting gaming units for verification;

establishing communication with the selected gaming units;

receiving installed identification data at the operational component registry from the selected gaming units as to components actually installed on the selected gaming units; and

examining the installed identification data and registered identification data to determine enablement of the gaming units, wherein the registered identification includes identification data for components supposed to be installed on the gaming units.

114. A method for verifying and selectively enabling gaming units, the method comprising:

assigning identification codes to multiple gaming machine system components within multiple gaming units, wherein the components include hardware and software, and each gaming unit includes multiple components with identification codes;

binding together gaming machine system components within the gaming unit, including registered identification data and installed identification data, into a protected group of component bindings using cryptographic security procedures and the identification codes of the components in the bindings group, and wherein the bindings prevent falsification or repudiation of log entries with respect to any modifications or replacements of components within the binding group;

receiving installed identification data from gaming units at an operational component registry through an interface located on the operational component registry, wherein the installed identification data includes identification data for components that are actually installed on the gaming units;

storing registered identification data on a memory device located within the operational component registry, wherein the registered identification data includes identification data for components that are supposed to be installed on the gaming units; and

examining the registered identification data and the installed identification data using a processor located in the operational component registry to determine enablement of the gaming units.