Gaming device security mechanism

• US 8,892,469 B2
• Filed: 04/01/2009
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Goldstein, Floyd R., Goodman, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Nigh, James D
• Application Number:
  US12/416,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20100255902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,057 Days
• Field of Search: 705/50, 463/29
• US Class Current: 705/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/10 Usage protection of distributed data files
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3234 about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

At least one aspect disclosed herein relates to a wager-based gaming device which includes a security monitoring and reporting system. In at least one embodiment, the security monitoring/reporting system may be configured or designed to automatically monitor various conditions, events, and/or activities at the gaming device for various types of security-related issues, and to automatically and/or dynamically report the detection of security-related issues to one or more devices, systems and/or other entities.

Claims

1. A gaming device in a casino gaming network, comprising:

a gaming controller;

a first memory;

a display;

a first communication interface, the first communication interface operable to facilitate communication between the gaming device and one or more devices in the casino gaming network;

a gaming device housing including a door, said door movable between an open position and a closed position, when said door is in said closed position defining an interior area and when said door in said open position permitting access to said interior area, the interior area including one or more devices;

the interior area further including a security system, the security system including a security system housing, the security system housing including a processor, a second memory, a portable power source, a second communication interface, and a sensor;

the security system operable to;

detect a security-related event, wherein the security-related event indicates a condition of the security of the gaming device;

designate the detected security-related event as a critical security event or a non-critical security event;

automatically update a current power mode of operation of the security system, wherein the current power mode of operation indicates an amount of power consumed by the security system;

record selected information associated with the detected security-related event;

transmit the selected information associated with the detected security-related event via the second communication interface to a remote system, wherein the remote system is located external to the gaming device;

receive a command from the remote system, the command providing instructions for responding to the detected security-related event; and

perform the command.

2. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first security system is further operable to:

acquire selected information relating to the gaming device, the selected information including at least a portion of information selected from a group consisting of;

historical game data, game state data, wager related data, gaming device state information, gaming device movement data, security information, fault-related information, gaming device ID information, timestamp information, and security system ID information.

3. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the selected information associated with the detected security-related event includes at least a portion of information selected from a group consisting of:

historical game data, game state data, wager related data, gaming device state information, gaming device movement data, security information, fault-related information, gaming device ID information, timestamp information, and security system ID information.

4. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the first security system is further operable to:

store selected information relating to the gaming device to a remote storage medium, wherein the remote storage medium is external to the gaming device, wherein the selected information includes at least a portion of information selected from a group consisting of;

historical game data, game state data, wager related data, gaming device state information, gaming device movement data, security information, fault-related information, gaming device ID information, timestamp information, and security system ID information.

5. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the security system is further operable to:

initiate, in response to detection of the security-related event, an action for shutting down one or more components of the gaming device.

6. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the security system is further operable to:

initiate, in response to detection of the security-related event, an action for disabling game play at the gaming device.

7. The gaming device of claim 1:

wherein the security-related event includes at least one condition or event selected from a group consisting of;

detection a first event at the gaming device which meets or exceeds specified threshold criteria, detection a first condition at the gaming device which meets or exceeds specified threshold criteria, detection of an event or condition at the gaming device which may result in damage to the gaming device, detection of an event or condition at the gaming device which may result in loss or altering of information stored at the gaming device, detection of an unauthorized event or condition at the gaming device, detection of an event or condition at the gaming device which relates to an access of the interior area of the gaming device, detection of an event or condition at the gaming device which relates to access of cash stored at the gaming device, and detection of a fault-related event or condition at the gaming device.

8. The gaming device of claim 1 further comprising an input mechanism for receiving cash or an indicia of credit.

9. The gaming device of claim 1 further comprising:

means for detecting the security-related event;

means for designating the detected security-related event as a critical security event or a non-critical security event;

means for automatically updating a current power mode of operation of the security system;

means for recording selected information associated with the detected security-related event;

means for transmitting the selected information associated with the detected security-related event via the second communication interface to the remote system;

means for receiving a command from the remote system; and

means for performing the command.

10. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the security system is configured to:

collect image information of a security related event associated with the exterior of the gaming device.

11. The gaming device of claim 1, wherein the security system is configured to:

collect image information of a security-related event associated with the interior of the gaming device.

12. A gaming device for use in a casino gaming network, comprising:

a gaming controller;

a first memory;

a display;

a first communication interface, the first communication interface operable to facilitate communication between the gaming device and one or more devices in the gaming network; and

a security system;

the gaming device is a hand held device;

the security system being operable to;

detect a first event relating to the gaming device, the first detected event having associated therewith a first set of data;

analyze the first set of data with respect to a first set of criteria to designate the first detected event as a critical security event or a non-critical security event, wherein the first detected event is designated as a critical security event when the first detected event meets or exceeds a specified threshold security criteria;

perform an action in response to determining that the first event corresponds to a critical security event, wherein the action includes recording selected information associated with the critical security event in non-volatile memory, and transmitting, via a wireless communication protocol, selected information relating to the critical security event to a remote system, wherein the remote system is located external to the gaming device;

receive a command from the remote system, the command providing instructions for responding to the critical security event; and

perform the command.

13. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the first security system is further operable to:

acquire selected information relating to the gaming device, the selected information including at least a portion of information selected from a group consisting of;

historical game data, game state data, wager related data, gaming device state information, gaming device movement data, security information, fault-related information, gaming device ID information, timestamp information, and security system ID information.

14. The gaming device of claim 13 wherein the selected information includes at least a portion of information selected from a group consisting of:

historical game data, game state data, wager related data, gaming device state information, gaming device movement data, security information, fault-related information, gaming device ID information, timestamp information, and security system ID information.

15. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the security system is further operable to:

store a selected information relating to the gaming device to a remote storage medium, wherein the remote storage medium is external to the gaming device, wherein the selected information includes at least a portion of information selected from a group consisting of;

historical game data, game state data, wager related data, gaming device state information, gaming device movement data, security information, fault-related information, gaming device ID information, timestamp information, and security system ID information.

16. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the security system is further operable to:

initiate, in response to detection of the critical security event, an action for shutting down one or more components of the gaming device.

17. The gaming device of claim 12, wherein the security system is further operable to:

initiate, in response to detection of the critical security event, an action for disabling game play at the gaming device.

18. The gaming device of claim 12:

wherein the first detected event includes at least one condition or event selected from a group consisting of;

detection a first event at the gaming device which meets or exceeds specified threshold criteria, detection a first condition at the gaming device which meets or exceeds specified threshold criteria, detection of an event or condition at the gaming device which may result in damage to the gaming device, detection of an event or condition at the gaming device which may result in loss or altering of information stored at the gaming device, detection of an unauthorized event or condition at the gaming device, detection of an event or condition at the gaming device which relates to an access of the interior area of the gaming device, detection of an event or condition at the gaming device which relates to access of cash stored at the gaming device, and detection of a fault-related event or condition at the gaming device.

19. The gaming device of claim 12 further comprising:

means for detecting a first event relating to the gaming device, the first detected event having associated therewith a first set of data;

means for analyzing the first set of data with respect to a first set of criteria to designate the first detected event as a critical security event or a non-critical security event, wherein the first detected event is designated as a critical security event when the first detected event meets or exceeds specified threshold security criteria; and

means for performing at least one action in response to determining that the first event corresponds to a critical security event, wherein the at least one action includes recording selected information associated with the critical security event in non-volatile memory, and transmitting, via a wireless communication protocol, selected information relating to the critical security event to a remote system, wherein the remote system is located external to the gaming device.

20. A method for operating a gaming device in a casino gaming network, the gaming device including a gaming controller, a first memory, a display, a first communication interface, a gaming device housing including a door, said door being movable between an open position and a closed position, when said door is in said closed position defining an interior area and when said door in said open position permitting access to said interior area, the interior area including one or more devices, the interior area further including a security system, the security system including a security system housing, the security system housing including a processor, a second memory, a portable power source, a second communication interface a sensor, the method comprising:

detecting, by the security system, a security-related event;

designating, by the security system, the detected security-related event as a critical security event or a non-critical security event;

automatically updating, by the security system, a current power mode of operation of the security system;

recording, by the security system, selected information associated with the detected security-related event;

transmitting the selected information associated with the detected security-related event via the second communication interface to a remote system, wherein the remote system is located external to the gaming device;

receiving, by the security system, a command from the remote system, the command providing instructions for responding to the detected security-related event; and

performing, by the security system, the command.

21. A method for operating a gaming device in a casino gaming network, the gaming device including a gaming controller, a first memory, a display, a first communication interface, and a security system, the method comprising:

detecting, by the security system, a first event relating to the gaming device, the first detected event having associated therewith a first set of data;

analyzing, by the security system, the first set of data with respect to a first set of criteria to designate the first detected event as a critical security event or a non-critical security event, wherein the first detected event is designated as a critical security event when meets or exceeds a specified threshold security criteria;

performing, by the security system, an action in response to determining that the first event corresponds to a critical security event, wherein the action includes recording selected information associated with the critical security event in non-volatile memory, and transmitting, via a wireless communication protocol, selected information relating to the critical security event to a remote system, wherein the remote system is located external to the gaming device;

receiving, by the security system, a command from the remote system, the command providing instructions for responding to the critical security event; and

performing the command.