Authenticating components in wagering game systems

• US 9,424,712 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2009
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LNW Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Bally Gaming Incorporated (Light & Wonder Incorporated)
• Inventors: Shimabukuro, Jorge L., Veradej, Anussorn, Wang, Jun, Weijers, Gerardus A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DURAN, ARTHUR D
• Application Number:
  US13/000,908
• Publication Number:
  US 20110117984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,616 Days
• Field of Search: 705/50, 705/67, 713188-189, 713192-194, 380/251, 463/1, 463/29, 463 42- 43, 725/2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/00 Commerce
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3223 Architectural aspects of a gaming system, e.g. internal configuration, master/slave, wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3241 Security aspects of a gaming system, e.g. detecting cheating, device integrity, surveillance computer security G06F21/00

Abstract

In some embodiments, a processor includes a plurality of local stores configured to store wagering game assets and at least part of a wagering game controller, and to store authentication keys for use in authenticating the wagering game controller and the wagering game assets; a plurality of processing elements, wherein each processing element is coupled to one of the local stores, each processing element configured to present wagering games by executing the wagering game controller; at least one authentication controller including hardware configured to authenticate, using the authentication keys, the wagering game controller and wagering game assets; a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device configured to store the wagering game controller and wagering game assets, wherein the wagering game assets include audio and video content for use in presenting the wagering games.

Claims

1. A method for authenticating wagering game modules in a wagering game machine that includes a processor having authentication hardware configured to authenticate wagering game software, the method comprising:

authenticating, using the authentication hardware, a loader module, wherein the loader module is configured to enable the wagering game machine to receive at least one other module over a network;

configuring, by executing the loader module, the wagering game machine to receive the at least one other module over the network;

receiving, under control of the loader module, a first wagering game controller module configured to present wagering games during execution on the wagering game machine;

determining, using the authentication hardware, that the first wagering game controller module is not authentic, the determining occurring before the wagering game machine includes an operating system and the at least one other module required for presentation of the wagering games;

requesting, under control of the loader module, a second wagering game controller module before receipt of the operating system and the at least one other module required for presentation of the wagering games;

receiving the second wagering game controller module, wherein the second wagering game controller module is configured to present the wagering games during execution on the wagering game machine;

determining, using the authentication hardware, that the second wagering game controller module is authentic;

determining, using the authentication hardware, that the at least one other module is authentic; and

executing the operating system, the at least one other module, and the second wagering game controller module.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the loader module is not part of the wagering game operating system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first wagering game controller module is received from one of a wagering game server and another wagering game machine.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the receiving of the first wagering game controller module and the receiving of the second wagering game controller module overlap in time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication hardware includes, before receipt of the first wagering game controller module, one or more authentication keys associated with the first wagering game controller module and the second wagering game controller module.

6. A wagering game machine comprising:

a processor having authentication hardware configured to

authenticate, using the authentication hardware, a loader module, wherein the loader module is configured to enable the wagering game machine to receive at least one other module over a network,

configure, by executing the loader module, the wagering game machine to receive the at least one other module over the network,

receive, under control of the loader module, a first wagering game controller module configured to present wagering games during execution on the wagering game machine,

determine, using the authentication hardware, that the first wagering game controller module is not authentic, the determining occurring before the wagering game machine includes an operating system and the at least one other module required for presentation of the wagering games,

request, under control of the loader module, a second wagering game controller module before receipt of the operating system and the at least one other module required for presentation of the wagering games,

receive the second wagering game controller module, wherein the second wagering game controller module is configured to present the wagering games during execution on the wagering game machine,

determine, using the authentication hardware, that the second wagering game controller module is authentic,

determine, using the authentication hardware, that the at least one other module is authentic, and

execute the operating system, the at least one other module, and the second wagering game controller module.

7. A non-transitory, machine-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor of a wagering game machine, cause the wagering game machine to perform operations comprising:

authenticating, using authentication hardware of the processor, a loader module, wherein the loader module is configured to enable the wagering game machine to receive at least one other module over a network;

configuring, by executing the loader module, the wagering game machine to receive the at least one other module over the network;

receiving, under control of the loader module, a first wagering game controller module configured to present wagering games during execution on the wagering game machine;

determining, using the authentication hardware, that the first wagering game controller module is not authentic, the determining occurring before the wagering game machine includes an operating system and the at least one other module required for presentation of the wagering games;

requesting, under control of the loader module, a second wagering game controller module before receipt of the operating system and the at least one other module required for presentation of the wagering games;

receiving the second wagering game controller module, wherein the second wagering game controller module is configured to present the wagering games during execution on the wagering game machine;

determining, using the authentication hardware, that the second wagering game controller module is authentic;

determining, using the authentication hardware, that the at least one other module is authentic; and

executing the operating system, the at least one other module, and the second wagering game controller module.