Authentication service in a service-oriented gaming network environment

• US 20040243848A1
• Filed: 03/08/2004
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2003
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sg Gaming, Inc. (Scientific Games Corporation)
• Inventors: Gentles, Thomas A., Blackburn, Christopher W., Block, Rory L., Swamy, Vikram, Warkentin, Terry D.
• Application Number:
  US10/796,553
• Publication Number:
  US 20040243848A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/201
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32

Abstract

An authentication service for a gaming network including gaming machines provides systems and methods for authenticating entities on the gaming network. The gaming services framework comprises a set of services, protocols, XML schemas, and methods for providing gaming system functionality in a distributed, network based architecture that includes gaming machines and servers. The systems and methods provide a service-oriented framework for gaming and property management based upon internetworking technology and web services concepts.

Claims

1. A method for providing an authentication service in a gaming network including gaming machines, the method comprising:

publishing the availability of the authentication service on the gaming network;

receiving a request to register with the authentication service from a service provider on the gaming network; and

processing one or more service requests between the service provider and the authentication service, said service requests conforming to an internetworking protocol.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication service comprises a web service.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the service request is formatted according to a service description language.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the service description language is a Web Services Description Language (WSDL).

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the authentication service is registered in a UDDI registry.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the authentication service accesses an authentication database.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the authentication database is accessed using an LDAP protocol.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the authentication database is accessed using a RADIUS protocol.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the authentication service is a local service in the gaming network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the authentication service is provided at a well known location.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the well known location comprises a TCP/IP address and port.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the well known location comprises a message queue.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the well known location comprises a file location for performing a file transfer operation.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the authentication service is registered in a local environment for the service.

15. A gaming network system providing an authentication service, the gaming network system comprising:

a service provider communicably coupled to the gaming network;

at least one gaming machine communicably coupled to the gaming network and operable to request a service from the service provider; and

an authentication server hosting an authentication service, said server communicably coupled to the gaming network and operable to;

publish the availability of the authentication service on the gaming network;

receive a request to register with the authentication service from a service provider on the gaming network; and

process one or more service requests between the service provider and the authentication service, said service requests conforming to an internetworking protocol.

16. The gaming network system of claim 15, wherein the authentication service comprises a web service.

17. The gaming network system of claim 16, wherein the service request is formatted according to a service description language.

18. The gaming network system of claim 17, wherein the service description language is a Web Services Description Language (WSDL).

19. The gaming network system of claim 16, wherein the authentication service is registered in a UDDI registry.

20. The gaming network system of claim 16, further comprising an authentication database and wherein the authentication service accesses the authentication database.

21. The gaming network system of claim 20, wherein the authentication database is accessed using an LDAP protocol.

22. The gaming network system of claim 20, wherein the authentication database is accessed using a RADIUS protocol.

23. The gaming network system of claim 15, wherein the authentication service is a local service in the gaming network.

24. The gaming network system of claim 23, wherein the authentication service is provided at a well known location.

25. The gaming network system of claim 24, wherein the well known location comprises a TCP/IP address and port.

26. The gaming network system of claim 24, wherein the well known location comprises a message queue.

27. The gaming network system of claim 24, wherein the well known location comprises a file location for performing a file transfer operation.

28. The gaming network system of claim 23, wherein the authentication service is registered in a local environment for the service.