Progressive controller

• US 7,896,741 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2006
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Kuehling, Brian L., Ruckle, Clyde, Hollenbeck, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bumgarner; Melba
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hylinski; Steven J.
• Application Number:
  US11/582,134
• Publication Number:
  US 20080090652A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: 463/29, 463/40, 463/42, 463/24
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3258 Cumulative reward schemes, e.g. jackpots
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3269 Timing aspects of game play, e.g. blocking/halting the operation of a gaming machine

Abstract

A method and system for configuring a progressive system that insures enhanced operative control and security of the progressive system. The progressive controller provides one or more security keys to access and verify modifications to the progressive configuration. The allocated number of gaming devices connected to the progressive system is authenticated by a dedicated security key. Gaming devices in excess of the allocation are disabled from the progressive system. The security keys are configured with an expiration parameter that requires gaming establishments to remain current with respect to progressive system agreements.

Claims

1. A system for configuring and authenticating a progressive game network, the system comprising:

a plurality of gaming devices providing game play on the progressive game network;

a first security key configured with progressive game network programming parameters;

a second security key configured with progressive game network operation parameters;

a progressive controller comprising;

a key interface integrated with the progressive controller, wherein the key interface is configured to receive only one of the first security key and the second security key;

memory having machine readable code stored thereon, the machine readable code configured to;

authenticate the first security key or the second security key when the first security key or the second security key is in the key interface; and

in response to a successful authentication of the first security key, disable said game play on the progressive game network and permit programming of the progressive controller with the progressive game network programming parameters associated with the first security key; and

in response to a successful authentication of the second security key, permit operation of the progressive game network based on the progressive game network operation parameters associated with the second security key.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first security key and the second security key comprise a processor and a memory.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first security key comprises a programming key and the second security key comprises a run key.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the run key further comprises an expiration parameter which, when expired, prevents operation of the run key, the progressive controller, or both.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the machine readable code is further configured to, as part of the authentication, perform a calculation on a value sent to the first security key or the second security key and compare a value resulting from the calculation to a value received from the first security key or the second security key.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a gaming machine interface configured to disable one or more aspects of the plurality of gaming devices if the authentication is unsuccessful.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the authentication comprises comparing data stored within the first or second security key with data stored within the progressive controller.

8. A system for configuring and authenticating a progressive game network, the system comprising:

at least one security key configured with one of progressive game network programming parameters and progressive game network operation parameters, wherein the at least one security key is configured to interface with a progressive controller;

a progressive controller that manages a progressive award for a plurality of gaming devices, the progressive controller comprising;

at least one key interface configured to receive the at least one security key;

at least one input/output port configured to interface with one or more gaming device interfaces associated with the plurality of gaming devices, each of the plurality of gaming devices receiving wagers from players, a portion of the wagers added to the progressive award;

an authenticator configured to interface with the at least one key interface to authenticate the at least one security key, disable operation of the gaming device interfaces and permit programming of the progressive controller with the progressive game network programming parameters or enable operation of the progressive controller and the gaming device interfaces with the progressive game network operation parameters in response to a successful authentication, or disable operation of at least one of the progressive controller and the gaming device interfaces in response to an unsuccessful authentication.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the authenticator comprises hardware.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the authenticator comprises software.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the authenticator comprises a combination of hardware and software.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one security key comprises a program key and a run key.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the progressive controller is configured to operate a predetermined number of game devices only if the run key is interfacing with the at least one key interface and if the run key is successfully authenticated by the authenticator.

14. A method of configuring a progressive system, the method comprising:

coupling a progressive controller to a plurality of gaming devices, wherein the progressive controller includes a key interface, a memory, and a processor coupled to the key interface and to the memory, wherein the progressive controller is configured to manage a progressive award for the plurality of gaming devices;

receiving a security key into the key interface, wherein the security key is configured with one of progressive game network programming parameters and progressive game network operation parameters, wherein the security key is configured to enable configuration of the progressive controller;

interrogating the security key using the processor;

in response to a successful interrogation, disabling operation of the plurality of gaming devices and permitting modification of at least one progressive controller parameter via the progressive game network programming parameters or enabling operation of the plurality of gaming devices according to the progressive game network operation parameters;

displaying the at least one progressive parameter modification;

storing the modified at least one progressive controller parameter in the memory;

removing the security key from the key interface; and

un-displaying the at least one progressive controller parameter modification.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein interrogating the security key comprises analyzing data received from the security key.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein interrogating the security key comprises:

generating a first value within the progressive controller;

sending the first value from the progressive controller to the security key;

processing the first value within the security key to generate second value;

processing the first value within the progressive controller to generate a third value; and

comparing the second value to the third value.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein displaying at least one progressive controller parameter modification comprises displaying one or more menu options for software configuration.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein interrogating the security key comprises repeating one or more times during the displaying and modifying.

19. A method of enabling operation of a progressive system, the method comprising:

coupling a progressive controller to a plurality of gaming devices, wherein the progressive controller includes a key interface, a memory, and a processor coupled to the key interface and to the memory, wherein the progressive controller is configured to manage a progressive award for the plurality of gaming devices;

receiving a security key into the key interface and disabling operation of the progressive system with respect to a predetermined number of the plurality of gaming devices connected thereto, wherein the security key is configured with one of progressive game network programming parameters and progressive game network operation parameters, and wherein the security key is configured to enable operation of the progressive controller;

interrogating the security key;

permitting programming of the progressive controller with one of the progressive game network programming parameters and the progressive game network operation parameters in response to a successful interrogation;

operating the progressive system;

intermittently monitoring for the presence of and interrogating the security key while the progressive system is operating;

in response to interrogating the security key while the progressive system is operating, enabling operation of the progressive system when the security key includes the progressive game network operation parameters; and

in response to interrogating the security key, disabling operation of the progressive system when the security key includes the progressive game network programming parameters.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein interrogating the security key comprises analyzing data received from the security key.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein interrogating the security key comprises:

generating a first value within the progressive controller;

sending the first value for the progressive controller to the security key;

processing the first value within the security key to generate second value;

processing the first value within the progressive controller to generate a third value; and

comparing the second value to the third value.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein processing the first value within the security key comprises generating an encrypted second value.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein interrogating the security key comprises repeating the interrogation one or more times during the operation of the progressive system.