Pass-through live validation device and method

• US 7,867,084 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2006
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Downs, Justin G. III, Jackson, Mark D., Martinek, Michael G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laneau; Ronald
• Application Number:
  US11/644,717
• Publication Number:
  US 20070135216A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 463 16- 25, 463/29, 463/42, 380/229, 380/232, 380/251, 713/161
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

Hardware, systems, devices, architecture and methods for a wagering game-specific platform features secure storage and verification of game code and/or other data. An external connection securely communicates with a computerized wagering gaming system. Some embodiments of the invention provide the ability to identify game program code as certified or approved. This is provided by use of various electronic devices and elements for encryption, including at least a device that is internally embedded in the gaming device that access digital signatures, encrypted files, encrypted compiled files and hash functions as well as other encryption methods. Such functions are able to be effected, and security and validation is advantageously applied to data loaded into storage media even while the gaming machine is in operation.

Claims

1. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a game computer;

a storage media having at least some casino game information;

an externally accessible port; and

an externally accessible pass through security device configured to be accessed through the external accessible port, wherein the externally accessible pass through security device is further configured to;

enable verification of the casino game information;

determine whether the game computer requires communication with the storage media; and

pause or cease communication between the externally accessible pass through security device and the storage media, including the verification of the casino game information stored on the storage media upon determining that the game computer requires communication with the storage media.

2. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the externally accessible pass through security device is configured to continue or reinstate the verification communication that has been paused when communication ceases between the game computer and the storage media.

3. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein a microprocessor is externally connected to the externally accessible communication port, and verification of casino game information is performed on the microprocessor.

9. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the externally accessible pass through security is configured to enable communication with the storage media and to prevent such communication from writing on the storage media.

10. The gaming apparatus of claim 1, wherein the externally accessible communication port is configured to communicate a verification communication to the externally accessible pass through security device with no contemporary verification communication from the game computer to the storage media.

4. A gaming apparatus, comprising:

a housing;

a game computer having memory;

a storage media having at least some casino game information;

an externally accessible communication port; and

an externally accessible pass through security device communicatively coupled between the game computer and the storage media, wherein the externally accessible pass through security device is configured to be accessed through the externally accessible port, and wherein the externally accessible pass through security device is configured to;

enable verification of the casino game information;

determine whether the game computer requires communication with the storage media; and

pause or cease communication between the externally accessible pass through security device and the storage media, including the verification of the casino game information stored on the storage media upon determining that the game computer requires communication with the storage media.

5. The gaming apparatus of claim 4, wherein the game computer is configured to communicate with the storage media through the externally accessible pass through security device and the externally accessible pass through security device is configured to enable communication through the externally accessible communication port to or from the storage media while preventing external communication to the game computer.

6. The gaming apparatus of claim 5, wherein the externally accessible pass through security device is configured to prevent communication through the externally accessible communication port that includes a command to write on the storage media.

7. The gaming apparatus of claim 6, wherein a microprocessor is externally connected to the externally accessible communication port, and verification of casino game information is performed on the microprocessor.

8. The gaming apparatus of claim 4, wherein the externally accessible pass through security is configured to approve content of the communication and to enable communication with the storage media based on the approval.

11. A method of verifying casino gaming data in a computer-based gaming apparatus, comprising:

authenticating, by a computer communication device, casino gaming data stored on an information storage media, wherein the computer communication device is in communication with a security device, the computer communication device is connected to an external communication port on a casino gaming apparatus, and the security device is distinct from a game computer and the information storage media in the casino gaming apparatus;

determining whether the game computer requires communication with the information storage media; and

pausing or ceasing communication between the computer communication device and the information storage media upon determining that the game computer requires communication with the information storage media.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising continuously authenticating, by the security device, the casino gaming data in the information storage media.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising beginning or continuing the communication between the computer communication device and the information storage media when the communication between the gaming computer and the storage media ceases.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the security device is in communication with the information storage media.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the security device is not in communication with the gaming computer.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the computer communication device is in communication with the security device inside of the gaming apparatus while the gaming apparatus is powered up.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the computer communication device is in communication with the security device inside of the gaming apparatus while the gaming apparatus is executing a casino game.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising authenticating, by a processing intelligence, the casino game data in the information storage media after an external source downloads information through the processing intelligence to the information storage media.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the external source comprises a casino controlled source of information.

20. A method of verifying casino gaming data in a computer-based gaming apparatus comprising:

verifying, by a security device, casino gaming data in storage media, wherein the security device is in communication with a computer communication device, the computer communication device is connected to an external communication port on a casino gaming apparatus, the security device is distinct from a game computer and the storage media in the casino gaming apparatus;

determining, by the security device, whether the game computer requires communication with the storage media;

pausing or ceasing, by the security device, communication between the security device and the storage media upon determining that the game computer requires communication with the storage media.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising communicating, by the security device, verification of the casino gaming data to the computer communication device.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the computer communication device is in communication with the security device and the security device is in communication with the storage media and the security device is not in communication with the gaming computer.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the computer communication device is in communication with the security device inside of the casino gaming apparatus while the casino gaming apparatus is powered up.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the computer communication device is in communication with the security device inside of the gaming apparatus while the casino gaming apparatus is executing a casino game.

25. A method of authenticating data within a gaming machine during operation, comprising:

providing a gaming machine with a host computer, a security device comprising separate intelligence and associated memory, and at least one storage media for storing gaming data;

while the gaming machine is in operation, verifying the gaming data in the storage media by executing a verification program on the separate intelligence;

determining, by the security device, whether the host computer requires to communication with the storage media;

pausing or ceasing, by the security device, communication between the security device and the storage media upon determining that the game computer requires communication with the storage media.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the verification method used to verify the gaming data in the storage media is zero knowledge proofs.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein host computer functions are not altered by execution of the verification program, unless the gaming data cannot be verified.