Non-volatile memory management technique implemented in a gaming machine
First Claim
1. A method for managing non-volatile memory resources at a gaming machine, the gaming machine being configured or designed to receive a wager on a game of chance, the gaming machine including a first non-volatile memory source adapted to store accumulated information relating to activities at the gaming machine, the gaming machine including a second non-volatile memory source adapted to store accumulated information relating to activities at the gaming machine, the method comprising:
- receiving a game activation request to activate or add a first game at the gaming machine;
generating, in response to the game activation request, a memory allocation request for allocating a first portion of memory space at the first non-volatile memory source;
determining whether there is sufficient memory space available at the first non-volatile memory source for allocating the first portion of memory space;
automatically identifying for de-allocation a second game at the gaming machine in response to a determination that there is insufficient memory space available at the first non-volatile memory source for allocating the first portion of memory space, wherein the second game has associated therewith a first existing allocated portion of memory space at the first non-volatile memory source, the first existing allocated portion of memory space storing data that includes second game accumulated information relating to the second game;
in response to the determination that there is insufficient memory space available at the first non-volatile memory source for allocating the first portion of memory space, doing the following;
converting a first portion of the second game accumulated information stored in the first existing allocated portion of memory space into converted second game accumulated information which is in a format that is able to be interpreted during a time period when game code relating to the second game is unavailable for access;
storing the converted second game accumulated information in a second allocated portion of memory space at the second non-volatile memory source;
updating reference information relating to the first portion of the second game accumulated information and stored in the first non-volatile memory source to reference the converted second game accumulated information stored in the second allocated portion of memory space at the second non-volatile memory source; and
automatically initiating a procedure for de-allocating the first existing allocated portion of memory space at the first non-volatile memory source.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to different techniques for managing the storage of accumulated information in selected non-volatile memory sources at a gaming machine. In one implementation of the present invention relates to a technique for automatically and dynamically swapping critical data and/or other game related information between the non-volatile RAM and the alternate storage (e.g., disk drive) of a gaming machine as new games are activated and/or existing games are deactivated at the gaming machine.
177 Citations
33 Claims
-
1. A method for managing non-volatile memory resources at a gaming machine, the gaming machine being configured or designed to receive a wager on a game of chance, the gaming machine including a first non-volatile memory source adapted to store accumulated information relating to activities at the gaming machine, the gaming machine including a second non-volatile memory source adapted to store accumulated information relating to activities at the gaming machine, the method comprising:
-
receiving a game activation request to activate or add a first game at the gaming machine; generating, in response to the game activation request, a memory allocation request for allocating a first portion of memory space at the first non-volatile memory source; determining whether there is sufficient memory space available at the first non-volatile memory source for allocating the first portion of memory space; automatically identifying for de-allocation a second game at the gaming machine in response to a determination that there is insufficient memory space available at the first non-volatile memory source for allocating the first portion of memory space, wherein the second game has associated therewith a first existing allocated portion of memory space at the first non-volatile memory source, the first existing allocated portion of memory space storing data that includes second game accumulated information relating to the second game; in response to the determination that there is insufficient memory space available at the first non-volatile memory source for allocating the first portion of memory space, doing the following; converting a first portion of the second game accumulated information stored in the first existing allocated portion of memory space into converted second game accumulated information which is in a format that is able to be interpreted during a time period when game code relating to the second game is unavailable for access; storing the converted second game accumulated information in a second allocated portion of memory space at the second non-volatile memory source; updating reference information relating to the first portion of the second game accumulated information and stored in the first non-volatile memory source to reference the converted second game accumulated information stored in the second allocated portion of memory space at the second non-volatile memory source; and automatically initiating a procedure for de-allocating the first existing allocated portion of memory space at the first non-volatile memory source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method for managing non-volatile memory resources at a gaming machine, the gaming machine being configured or designed to receive a wager on a game of chance, the gaming machine including a first non-volatile memory source adapted to store accumulated information relating to activities at the gaming machine, the gaming machine including a second non-volatile memory source adapted to store accumulated information relating to activities at the gaming machine, the method comprising:
-
receiving a memory allocation request for allocating a first portion of memory space at the first non-volatile memory source, wherein the memory allocation request relates to a first game which is to be activated at the gaming machine; determining whether first game accumulated information relating to the first game is stored at the second non-volatile memory source; and when it is determined that first game accumulated information relating to the first game is stored at the second non-volatile memory source, doing the following; converting the first game accumulated information into converted first game accumulated information which is in a format that is able to be interpreted during a time period when game code relating to the first game is unavailable for access; allocating the first portion of memory space in the first non-volatile memory source for storing the converted first game accumulated information; populating the allocated first portion of memory space in the first non-volatile memory source with the converted first game accumulated information; and updating reference information relating to the first game accumulated information and stored in the second non-volatile memory source to reference the converted first game accumulated information stored in the allocated first portion of memory space at the first non-volatile memory source. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
-
-
10. A method for managing non-volatile memory resources at a gaming machine, the gaming machine being configured or designed to receive a wager on a game of chance, the gaming machine including a first non-volatile memory source adapted to store accumulated information relating to activities at the gaming machine, the gaming machine including a second non-volatile memory source adapted to store accumulated information relating to activities at the gaming machine, the method comprising:
-
receiving a first memory de-allocation request for de-allocating a first allocated portion of memory space at the first non-volatile memory source, wherein the first allocated portion of memory space includes first game accumulated information relating to a first game at the gaming machine; in response to the first memory de-allocation request, doing the following; converting a first portion of the first game accumulated information into converted first game accumulated information which is in a format that is able to be interpreted during a time period when game code relating to the first game is unavailable for access; storing the converted first game accumulated information in a second allocated portion of memory space at the second non-volatile memory source; updating reference information relating to the first portion of the first game accumulated information and stored in the first non-volatile memory source to reference the converted first game accumulated information stored in the second allocated portion of memory space at the second non-volatile memory source; and de-allocating the first allocated portion of memory space at the first non-volatile memory source. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A gaming machine configured or designed to receive a wager on a game of chance, the gaming machine comprising:
-
a processor; a interface; a first non-volatile memory source adapted to store accumulated information relating to activities at the gaming machine; and a second non-volatile memory source adapted to store accumulated information relating to activities at the gaming machine; the gaming machine being adapted to; receive a memory allocation request for allocating a first portion of memory space at the first non-volatile memory source; determine whether there is sufficient memory space available at the first non-volatile memory source for allocating the first portion of memory space; in response to the determination that there is insufficient memory space available at the first non-volatile memory source for allocating the first portion of memory space, do the following; convert a first portion of second game accumulated information stored in the first non-volatile memory source into converted second game accumulated information which is in a format that is able to be interpreted during a time period when game code relating to the second game is unavailable for access; store the converted second game accumulated information in the second non-volatile memory source; update reference information relating to the first portion of the second game accumulated information and stored in the first non-volatile memory source to reference the converted second game accumulated information stored in the second non-volatile memory source; and automatically initiate a procedure for de-allocating an existing allocated portion of memory space at the first non-volatile memory source. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A gaming machine configured or designed to receive a wager on a game of chance, the gaming machine comprising:
-
a processor; an interface; a first non-volatile memory source adapted to store accumulated information relating to activities at the gaming machine; and a second non-volatile memory source adapted to store accumulated information relating to activities at the gaming machine; the gaming machine being adapted to; receive a memory allocation request for allocating a first portion of memory space at the first non-volatile memory source, wherein the memory allocation request relates to a first game which is to be activated at the gaming machine; determine whether first game accumulated information relating to the first game is stored at the second non-volatile memory source; and when it is determined that first game accumulated information relating to the first game is stored at the second non-volatile memory source, do the following; convert at least a portion of the first game accumulated information retrieved from the second non-volatile memory source into converted first game accumulated information which is in a format that is able to be interpreted during a time period when game code relating to the first game is unavailable for access; allocate the first portion of memory space at the first non-volatile memory source with the converted first game accumulated information; populate the allocated first portion of memory space at the first non-volatile memory source with the converted first game accumulated information; and update reference information relating to the first game accumulated information and stored in the second non-volatile memory source to reference the converted first game accumulated information stored in the allocated first portion of memory space at the first non-volatile memory source. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
-
-
27. A gaming machine configured or designed to receive a wager on a game of chance, the gaming machine comprising:
-
a processor; a interface; a first non-volatile memory source adapted to store accumulated information relating to activities at the gaming machine; and a second non-volatile memory source adapted to store accumulated information relating to activities at the gaming machine; the gaming machine being adapted to; receive a first memory de-allocation request for de-allocating a first allocated portion of memory space at the first non-volatile memory source, wherein the first allocated portion of memory space includes first game accumulated information relating to a first game at the gaming machine; in response to the first memory de-allocation request, do the following; convert a first portion of the first game accumulated information into converted first game accumulated information which is in a format that is able to be interpreted during a time period when game code relating to the first game is unavailable for access; store the converted first game accumulated information in a second allocated portion of memory space at the second non-volatile memory source; update reference information relating to the first portion of the first game accumulated information and stored in the first non-volatile memory source to reference the converted first game accumulated information stored in the second allocated portion of memory space at the second non-volatile memory source; and de-allocate the first allocated portion of memory space at the first non-volatile memory source. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
Specification