GAMING SYSTEM LICENSE MANAGEMENT

• US 20080064503A1
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Oberberger, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 7,841,942 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2109 Game systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3232 wherein the operator is informed

Abstract

A gaming system may include a first gaming unit, a second gaming unit, and a monitoring apparatus operatively coupled to the first and second gaming unit. The monitoring apparatus may include a display terminal and a monitoring apparatus controller operatively coupled to the display terminal. The monitoring apparatus controller may comprise a processor and a memory having encrypted license data representing a license parameter and a corresponding license parameter value stored therein, and may be programed to determine if the encrypted license data is authentic and may be programmed to determine if a configuration of the gaming system is in compliance with the license parameter value of the license parameter.

Claims

1. A gaming system, comprising:

a plurality of gaming units coupled to a data network, each gaming unit having a configuration for executing a game application enabling a player to play a game of chance on the gaming unit, wherein a configuration of the gaming system is defined by the plurality of gaming unit configurations;

means for storing a license parameter paired with a corresponding license parameter value of a license for determining access to the gaming system configuration, the license applicable to the plurality of gaming units;

means, separate from the gaming units and coupled to the data network, for monitoring the plurality of gaming units;

means for comparing a real-time parameter value with the license parameter value, the real-time parameter value determined from a current configuration of the plurality of gaming unit configurations;

means for determining that the gaming system configuration is not in compliance with the license when the real-time parameter exceeds the license parameter value; and

means for preventing reconfiguration of the gaming system configuration without interrupting game play on the gaming units when the gaming system configuration is not in compliance with the license.

3. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the gaming system configuration includes a function of the gaming system or a function of a device coupled to the data network.

4. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the means for monitoring further comprises continuously receiving data from the plurality of gaming units.

5. The gaming system of claim 1, further comprising means for displaying a message indicating an exceeded license when the gaming system configuration is not in compliance with the license.

6. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the license parameter value is a maximum allowable number of gaming units in the gaming system, and the real-time parameter value is a current number of gaming units coupled to the data network.

7. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the license parameter value is a valid gaming system operation mode of the gaming system, and the real-time parameter value is a current operation mode of the gaming system.

8. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the license parameter value is a maximum allowable number of operator workstations that may be incorporated in the gaming system, and the real-time parameter value is a current number of operator workstations coupled to the data network.

9. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the license parameter value is a maximum allowable number and type of reports that may be generated by the gaming system, and the real-time parameter value is a current number and type of reports being generated by the gaming system.

10. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the license parameter value is a site identification of the gaming system, and the real-time parameter value is a current site identification incorporated in the gaming system.

11. The gaming system of claim 1, wherein the license parameter value is an expiration date of the license, and the real-time parameter value is a current date of the gaming system.

2. A program storage device readable by a machine tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for monitoring a plurality of gaming units coupled to a data network in a monitoring apparatus, the monitoring apparatus coupled to the data network and separate from the gaming units, each gaming unit having a configuration for executing a game application enabling a player to play a game of chance on the gaming unit, a configuration of the gaming system defined by the plurality of gaming unit configurations, the method comprising:

storing a license parameter paired with a corresponding license parameter value of a license for determining access to the gaming system configuration, the license applicable to the plurality of gaming units;

providing a monitoring apparatus separate from the gaming units, the monitoring apparatus coupled to the data network to monitor the plurality of gaming units, the monitoring apparatus including a processor programmed to;

i) compare a real-time parameter value with the license parameter value, the real-time parameter value determined from a current configuration of the plurality of gaming unit configurations,

ii) determine that the gaming system configuration is not in compliance with the license when the real-time parameter exceeds the license parameter value, and

iii) when the gaming system configuration is not in compliance with the license, prevent reconfiguration of the gaming system configuration without interrupting game play on the gaming units.

12. A method for monitoring a plurality of gaming units coupled to a data network with a monitoring apparatus, the monitoring apparatus coupled to the data network and separate from the gaming units, each gaming unit having a configuration for executing a game application enabling a player to play a game of chance on the gaming unit, a configuration of the gaming system defined by the plurality of gaming unit configurations, the method comprising:

storing a license parameter in a memory device;

pairing the license parameter with a corresponding license parameter value of a license for determining access to the gaming system configuration, the license applicable to the plurality of gaming units;

comparing a real-time parameter value with the license parameter value, the real-time parameter value determined from a current configuration of the plurality of gaming unit configurations;

determining that the gaming system configuration is not in compliance with the license when the real-time parameter exceeds the license parameter value; and

preventing reconfiguration of the gaming system configuration without interrupting game play on the gaming units when the gaming system configuration is not in compliance with the license.

13. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the gaming system configuration includes a function of the gaming system or a function of a device coupled to the data network.

14. The gaming system of claim 12, further comprising means for displaying a message indicating an exceeded license when the gaming system configuration is not in compliance with the license.

15. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the license parameter value is a maximum allowable number of gaming units in the gaming system, and the real-time parameter value is a current number of gaming units coupled to the data network.

16. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the license parameter value is a valid gaming system operation mode of the gaming system, and the real-time parameter value is a current operation mode of the gaming system.

17. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the license parameter value is a maximum allowable number of operator workstations that may be incorporated in the gaming system, and the real-time parameter value is a current number of operator workstations coupled to the data network.

18. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the license parameter value is a maximum allowable number and type of reports that may be generated by the gaming system, and the real-time parameter value is a current number and type of reports being generated by the gaming system.

19. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the license parameter value is a site identification of the gaming system, and the real-time parameter value is a current site identification incorporated in the gaming system.

20. The gaming system of claim 12, wherein the license parameter value is an expiration date of the license, and the real-time parameter value is a current date of the gaming system.