EXECUTING MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS AND THEIR VARIATIONS IN COMPUTING ENVIRONMENTS

• US 20070270212A1
• Filed: 08/01/2007
• Published: 11/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Rowe, Richard, Cockerille, Warner
• Granted Patent: US 8,556,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/658 Incremental updates; Differential updates
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3225 Data transfer within a gaming system, e.g. data sent between gaming machines and users

Abstract

Techniques for execution of multiple application programs and their variations are disclosed. One or more individual application program components that are determined to be already stored and/or loaded into memory are not loaded into memory again, thereby allowing the associated application program to be executed without unnecessarily reloading the one or more individual application program components into memory. Generally, by keeping track and/or predicting of the application components loaded into memory, it can be determined whether to load or unload a particular application program component. In addition, data that can readily identify the application components that are not already into memory can be provided as differential application data for loading various application programs and their variations to facilitate switching between and/or concurrently running multiple application programs and their variations.

Claims

1. A computing system, comprising:

memory;

one or more processors, wherein said one or more processors are configured and/or operable for;

receiving, identifying and/or determining an application program that includes one or more application program components required to be stored in said memory for execution of said application program;

determining whether each one of said one or more application program components of said application program are stored in said memory so that said application program can be executed by said computing system after said receiving, identifying and/or determining of said application program; and

causing at least one application program component of said one or more application program components of said application program not to be loaded into said memory when said determining determines that said at least one application program component is stored into said memory and consequently available for execution of said application program.

19. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said method is performed by said computing system to load said application program into another memory associated with another computer program.

2. A method for loading a computer application program (application program) into memory for execution by a computing system operating in a computing environment, wherein said method comprises:

receiving, identifying and/or determining an application program that includes one or more application program components required to be stored in said memory for execution of said application program;

determining whether each one of said one or more application program components of said application program are stored in said memory so that said application program can be executed by said computing system after said receiving, identifying and/or determining of said application program; and

not loading at least one application program component of said one or more application program components of said application program into said memory when said determining determines that said at least one application program component is stored into said memory and consequently available for execution of said application program.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said determining of whether each one of said one or more application components of said application program are stored in said memory includes determining whether said one or more application program components of said application program are stored in said memory as a result of execution and/or loading of one or more other application programs.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said determining of whether each one of said one or more application components of said application program are stored in said memory includes one or more of the following:

determining whether each one of said one or more application program components have been stored and/or loaded into memory as a result of loading and/or execution of one or more other application programs;

determining whether each one of said one or more application program components have been stored and/or loaded into memory as a result of a previous loading and/or execution of said application program;

determining whether each one of said one or more application program components have been loaded into memory as a result of the execution of one or more other application programs;

determining whether each one of said one or more application program components have been loaded into memory as a result of another one or more application programs being previously executed prior to execution of said application program; and

determining whether each one of said one or more application program components have been loaded into memory as a result of another one or more application programs being concurrently executed.

5. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said determining of whether each one of said one or more application components of said application program are stored in said memory is performed based on differential application data that effectively indicates one or more application program components of said application program to be loaded in memory for execution of said application program.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said differential application data effectively identifies one or more application program components of said application program that have been already loaded in said memory as a result of execution of one or more other application programs.

7. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said differential application data effectively identifies one or more application program components that said application program has in common with another application program that has been loaded in said memory and/or executed by said computing system.

8. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said differential application data effectively identifies one or more application components for unloading from and/or overwriting in said memory.

9. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said differential application data effectively describes the differences between said application program and one or more other applications programs with respect to their individual application program components.

10. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein said method further comprises:

receiving, obtaining, and/or identifying and determining said differential application data.

11. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said determining of whether each one of said one or more individual application components of said application program are stored in said memory is performed based on differential application data that effectively identifies one or more application components of said application program to be loaded in and/or unloaded from said memory for execution of said application program.

12. A method as recited in claim 2,

wherein said computing system is a gaming machine operating in a gaming environment, and

wherein said application program is a gaming application program.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said gaming application program pertains to a game.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein said game is a game of chance.

15. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said determining of whether each one of said one or more application components of said application program are stored in said memory is performed at runtime during the execution of one or more other application programs.

16. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein said determining of whether each one of said one or more application components of said application program are stored in said memory includes comparing said one or more application components with components of one or more other application programs.

17. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein said comparing is performed during the runtime or said one or more other application programs.

18. A method as recited in claim 16, wherein said method further comprises:

generating differential application data based on said comparing of one or more application components with components of one or more other application programs;

storing said differential application data for subsequent execution.

20. A computing system for managing and/or controlling loading operations of one more other computing systems, wherein said computing system is configured and/or operable for:

receiving, identifying and/or determining an application program that includes one or more application program components that are required to be stored in memory associated with said one or more other application programs in order to execute said application program;

determining whether each one of said one or more application program components of said application program are stored in each of said memory associated respectively with said one or more other application programs so that said application program can be executed by said one or more other computing system after said receiving, identifying and/or determining of said application program; and

causing at least one application program component of said one or more application program components of said application program not to be loaded into said memory associated with said one or more other computing systems when said determining determines that said at least one application program component is stored into said memory and consequently available for execution of said application program.

21. A computing system as recited in claim 20, wherein said causing of at said least one application program component not to be loaded into said memory includes one or more of the following:

effectively identifying said at least one application component;

effectively identifying one or more other application components of said application program component to be loaded by said one or more other computing systems;

not providing said at least one application component to said one or more other computing systems;

effectively providing one or more other application components of said application program for loading by said one or more other computing systems.

22. A computing system as recited in claim 20, wherein said computing system is a gaming server and said other computing systems are gaming machines operatively connected to said gaming server.

23. A method for loading a computer application program (application program) into memory for execution by a computing system operating in a computing environment, wherein said method comprises:

receiving, identifying and/or determining an application program that includes one or more application program components that are required to be stored in said memory for execution of said application program;

determining the difference between said application program and one or more other application program previously executed or to be currently being executed by said computing system with respect to their individual application program components to determine whether at least one of said one or more application program components of said application component need not be loaded into said memory for execution by said computing system;

not loading said at least one application program component into said memory when said determining determines not to load said at least one application program component into said memory.

24. A method for executing a computer application program (application program) by a computing system, said method comprising:

receiving, identifying and/or determining an application program for execution by said computing system, wherein said application program includes a plurality of individual application components, and wherein execution of said application program requires that said plurality of individual application components be stored into memory for execution by said computing system;

receiving, identifying, obtaining and/or determining differential application data that can effectively indicates that one or more of said plurality of individual application components of said application are loaded and/or stored into said memory as a result of execution of one or more other application programs;

determining based on said differential application data whether at least one of said one or more individual application components is stored and/or loaded into said memory and consequently need not be loaded into said memory again in order to execute said application program;

causing at least one individual application component of said application program not to be loaded into memory when said determining determines that said at least one of said one or more individual application component is already loaded into said memory; and

executing said application program without loading said at least one individual component when said determining determines that said at least one individual application program is loaded into memory.

25. A method as recited in claim 24, wherein said differential application data includes a loading counter and/or indicator that effectively provides a current loading status for said plurality of individual application components of said application and/or an indication as to whether to load one or more of said plurality of individual application components of said application.

26. A gaming machine for providing multiple games for one or more players, wherein said gaming machine is configurable and/or operable for:

receiving, identifying and/or determining a gaming program for execution by said computing system, wherein said gaming program includes a plurality of individual gaming components, and wherein execution of said gaming program requires that said plurality of individual gaming components be stored into memory for execution by said computing system;

receiving, identifying, obtaining and/or determining differential data that can effectively indicates that one or more of said plurality of individual gaming components of said gaming program are loaded and/or stored into said memory as a result of execution of one or more other gaming programs;

determining based on said differential data whether at least one of said one or more individual application components is stored and/or loaded into said memory and consequently need not be loaded into said memory again in order to execute said application program;

causing at least one individual application component of said gaming program not to be loaded into memory when said determining determines that said at least one of said one or more individual application component is already loaded into said memory; and

executing said application program without loading said at least one individual component when said determining determines that said at least one individual application program is loaded into memory.

27. A method for generating differential application data that can effectively define the difference between two applications programs with respect to individual application program components (components) that are required for execution of said application programs in said computing environment, said method comprising:

receiving, identifying and/or determining first and second application programs, wherein said first and second application programs respectively include first and second individual application program components required for execution of said application programs in said computing environment;

determining whether said first and second individual application program components have at least one common individual application program in common after said receiving, identifying and/or determining of said first and second application programs;

generating application differential data for said first and/or second applications programs, wherein said application differential data effectively indicates that said first and second application programs have least one common individual application program components in common when said determining determines that said first and second individual application program components have at least one common individual application program in common; and

store the application differential data for execution of said first and/or second applications programs.

28. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein said application differential data effectively identifies one or more individual application program components of said first and/or second application programs for loading and/or unloading into memory for execution of said first and second application programs.

29. A method as recited in claim 27, wherein said application differential includes a matrix for individual application program components of said first and second application programs.

30. A method as recited in claim 29, wherein said method further comprises one or more of the following:

comparing one or more names and/or identifiers assigned to said first and second application programs;

comparing one or more names and/or identifiers assigned to one or more of said individual application program components of said first and second application programs;

comparing one or more checksums assigned to said first and second application programs;

comparing one or more checksums assigned to said individual application program components of said first and second application programs;

comparing one or more byte-codes of said first and second application programs; and

comparing one or more byte-codes of one or more of said individual application program components of said first and second application programs.

31. A computer-implemented method for executing multiple application programs, said method comprising:

initiating execution of a first application program;

determining whether to execute a second application program instead or concurrently with said first application program; and

obtaining differential application data that effectively identifies the difference between said first and second application programs with respect to their individual application program components; and

executing the second application program based on said differences of said individual application program components as identified by said differential application data.

32. A computer implemented as recited in claim 31, wherein said differential application data effectively identifies one or more application program components of the second application program for loading into memory.

33. A computer implemented as recited in claim 31, wherein said differential application data effectively identifies one or more application program components to be unloaded from and/or overwritten in said memory.

34. A computer implemented as recited in claim 31, wherein said differential application data effectively identifies one or more application program components that need to be loaded in said memory when the execution switches from the execution of said first application program to said second application program.

35. A computer implemented as recited in claim 31, wherein said differential application data effectively identifies one or more application program components that can be unloaded from and/or overwritten in said memory when the execution switches from the execution of said first application program to said second application program.

36. A computer implemented as recited in claim 31, wherein said differential application data effectively identifies one or more of the following:

one or more application program components that need to be loaded in said memory when the execution switches from the execution of said first application program to said second application program;

identifies one or more application program components that can be unloaded from and/or overwritten in said memory when the execution switches from the execution of said first application program to said second application program;

one or more application program components that need to be loaded in said memory when the first and second application programs are executed concurrently; and

one or more application program components that can be unloaded and/or overwritten from said memory when the first and second application programs are executed concurrently.

37. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 36, wherein said first and/or second application programs are packaged as first and second application packages.

38. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 37, wherein the content of said first and second application packages and/or their respective application program components are not identified and/or not known prior to execution.

39. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 37, wherein said method further comprises:

determining and/or assigning to the said first and second application packages and/or their respective application program components one or more of the following;

an identifier and/or a name; and

a checksum.

40. A computer-implemented method for executing multiple application programs, said method comprising:

receiving, identifying and/or determining an application program for execution, wherein said execution of said application program requires that one or more application program components of said application be stored in memory;

determining whether differential application data is available for said application program, wherein said differential application effectively describes the difference between said application program components and the application program components that are known to be loaded in said memory; and

loading, based on said differential application data, said application program into said memory when said determining determines that said application data is available; and

executing said application program after said loading.

41. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 40, wherein said method comprises:

generating differential application data that effectively describes that difference between said application program components of said application and the application program components that are known to be loaded in said memory.

42. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 41, wherein said method comprises:

generating differential application data that effectively describes that difference between said application program components of said application and the application program components of one or more other application programs.

43. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 42, wherein said one or more other application programs have been executed prior to execution of said application program and/or said one or more other application programs are to be executed concurrently with said application program.

44. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 41,

wherein said differential application data effectively identifies one or more application program components of said application program that are known to be loaded in said memory as a result of execution and/or loading of one or more other application programs that have been previously executed or being currently executed;

and

wherein said method further comprises;

not loading said one or more application program components that are known to be loaded in said memory.

45. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 40, wherein said differential application data effectively identifies one or more application program components of said application program for loading into said memory.

46. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 40, wherein said method further comprises:

determining whether it would be efficient to load said application program selectively based on said differential application data when said determining determines that said differential application data is available; and

loading all of said application components of said application program when said determining determines that it would not be efficient to said application program selectively based on said differential application data.

47. A computer-implemented method as recited in claim 40,

wherein said application program is packaged as an application package, and

wherein said loading of all of said application components loads said application package in its entirety.

48. A gaming server for providing multiple games for one or more players, wherein said gaming machine is configurable and/or operable for:

receiving, identifying and/or determining a gaming program for execution by one or more gaming machines, wherein said gaming program includes a plurality of individual gaming components, and wherein execution of said gaming program requires that said plurality of individual gaming components be stored into respective memory of said one or more gaming machines for execution by said computing system;

receiving, identifying, obtaining and/or determining differential data that can effectively identify one or more of said plurality of individual gaming components of said gaming program which are loaded and/or stored into said respective memory of said one or more gaming machines;

determining based on said differential data whether at least one of said one or more individual application program components is stored and/or loaded into said memory of said one or more gaming machines; and

causing at least one individual gaming component of said gaming program not to be loaded into said respective memory of said one or more gaming machines when said determining determines that said at least one individual application component is already loaded into said respective memory, thereby allowing said one or more gaming machines to execute said gaming program without unnecessarily reloading said at least one individual application component into their respective memory.

49. A computer readable medium including computer program code for loading a computer application program (application program) into memory for execution by a computing system operating in a computing environment, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for receiving, identifying and/or determining an application program that includes one or more application program components required to be stored in said memory for execution of said application program;

computer program code for determining whether each one of said one or more application program components of said application program are stored in said memory so that said application program can be executed by said computing system after said receiving, identifying and/or determining of said application program; and

computer program code for not loading at least one application program component of said one or more application program components of said application program into said memory when said determining determines that said at least one application program component is stored into said memory and consequently available for execution of said application program.

50. A computer readable medium including computer program code for providing multiple games for one or more players, wherein said computer readable medium comprises:

computer program code for receiving, identifying and/or determining a gaming program for execution by one or more gaming machines, wherein said gaming program includes a plurality of individual gaming components, and wherein execution of said gaming program requires that said plurality of individual gaming components be stored into respective memory of said one or more gaming machines for execution by said computing system;

computer program code for receiving, identifying, obtaining and/or determining differential data that can effectively identify one or more of said plurality of individual gaming components of said gaming program which are computer program code for loaded and/or stored into said respective memory of said one or more gaming machines;

computer program code for determining based on said differential data whether at least one of said one or more individual application program components is stored and/or loaded into said memory of said one or more gaming machines; and

computer program code for causing at least one individual gaming component of said gaming program not to be loaded into said respective memory of said one or more gaming machines when said determining determines that said at least one individual application component is already loaded into said respective memory, thereby allowing said one or more gaming machines to execute said gaming program without unnecessarily reloading said at least one individual application component into their respective memory.