Device verification system and method

• US 8,554,682 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2010
• Issued: 10/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Morrow, James W., McAllister, Lawrence, Dubner, Robert, Carman, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Nigh, James D
• Application Number:
  US12/859,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20110021270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 705/51, 463/29, 713/2
• US Class Current: 705/51
• 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 method is disclosed for authenticating a gaming device, wherein the gaming device includes a plurality of components, one of which is a storage device. The method includes: starting up the gaming device; authenticating a data file stored on the storage device, wherein the authenticating comprises: opening and reading a file allocation structure in a storage device using a file allocation reader; processing the file allocation structure using a processor to provide access to files stored in the storage device, wherein the files in the storage device include installed identification data from one or more selected gaming units as to components actually installed on the selected gaming units, and wherein the files also include registered identification data for components supposed to be installed on the selected gaming units, each component including hardware components and software components, and each gaming unit including multiple components with identification data; and examining the installed identification data and registered identification data to determine enablement of the gaming units.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating a gaming device, wherein the gaming device includes a plurality of components, including at least a storage device, a processor, a BIOS, an operating system, and data files, the method comprising:

starting up the BIOS of the gaming device;

reading, by the processor, identification numbers of one or more hardware components;

searching, by the processor, each identification number in a database;

determining, by the processor, that each hardware component is valid based on the existence of a matching identification number in the database;

authenticating one or more data files of the gaming device, wherein each data file has a file name, wherein the authenticating comprises;

opening and reading a file allocation structure in a storage device using a file allocation reader;

retrieving, by the processor, each file from the storage device;

retrieving, by the processor, a previously computed bit string for each file from the database;

computing, by the processor, a second bit string for each of the retrieved files;

comparing, by the processor, the previously computed bit string of each file with the computed second bit string for each file; and

based on matching comparisons for every file, validating, by the processor, the data package, prior to starting the operating system of the gaming device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more components is associated with a type of component.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein matching identification data comprises matching identification data based on the type of component that the identification data identifies, and wherein the identification data and the type of component is matched to authenticate that the identification data is authentic.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more components is selected from the group consisting of:

a firmware component, a hardware component, and a structural component.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the components comprises a processor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the components comprises a ROM.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the ROM comprises an EPROM.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a data file comprises a software program file.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising replacing a data file if it is not authentic.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising stopping operation of the gaming device if any of the identification data is not matched.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a tilt condition message if any of the identification data is not matched.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the gaming device is a personal computer, and wherein authenticating of identification data is performed before a transaction is allowed on a network server.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein authenticating of identification data is performed before game play is allowed on the gaming device.

14. A system for authenticating a gaming device, comprising:

a plurality of components;

a processor for reading file names of each of the data files and for authenticating the data files;

a BIOS;

an operating system; and

a memory including instructions stored thereon which when executed by the processor cause the processor to;

start up the BIOS of the gaming device;

read identification numbers of one or more hardware components;

search each identification number in a database;

determine that each hardware component is valid based on the existence of a matching identification number in the database;

authenticate one or more data files of the gaming device, wherein each data file has a file name, wherein the authenticating comprises opening and reading a file allocation structure in a storage device using a file allocation reader;

retrieve each file from the storage device;

retrieve a previously computed bit string for each file from the database;

compute a second bit string for each of the retrieved files;

compare the previously computed bit string of each file with the computed second bit string for each file; and

based on matching comparisons for every file, validate the data package, prior to starting the operating system of the gaming device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor reads and authenticates the identification data.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the storage device is a flash memory disposed remote to the gaming device.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the components is associated with a type of component.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor matches each identification number based on the type of component that the identification number identifies, and wherein the identification number and the type of component is matched in the database in order to authenticate the identification number.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the components is selected from the group consisting of:

a firmware component, a hardware component, and a structural component.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of the components comprises the processor.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein a data file comprises a software program file.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein a data file comprises one of a plurality of operating system files comprising portions of an operating system.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor replaces a data file if it is not authentic.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor stops operation of the device if any of the identification data is not matched.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor generates a tilt condition message if any of the identification data is not matched.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the device is capable of connecting to a network, wherein the database is stored on a server that is remote from the device, wherein the processor authenticates the identification data over the network, and wherein the processor transmits the identification data to the server to match the identification data.

27. The system of claim 14, wherein the gaming device is a personal computer which authenticates the identification data before a transaction is allowed on the server.

28. The system of claim 14, wherein the gaming device is a gaming machine which authenticates the identification data before game play is allowed on the gaming device.

29. A system for authenticating a device, the system comprising:

a hard disk;

a processor;

a BIOS;

an operating system; and

a read-only memory including instructions which when executed by the processor cause the processor to;

start up the BIOS of the gaming device;

read identification numbers of one or more hardware components;

search each identification number in a database;

determine that each hardware component is valid based on the existence of a matching identification number in the database;

authenticate one or more data files of the gaming device, wherein each data file has a file name, wherein the authenticating comprises;

open and read a file allocation structure in a storage device using a file allocation reader;

retrieve each file from the storage device;

retrieve a previously computed bit string for each file from the database;

compute a second bit string for each of the retrieved files;

compare the previously computed bit string of each file with the computed second bit string for each file; and

based on matching comparisons for every file, validate the data package, prior to starting the operating system of the gaming device.