Method for downloading data to gaming devices
First Claim
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1. A method for downloading software from a source to a first gaming device in a network of gaming devices, the method comprising:
- (a) accessing first information in a first memory location of a one-time programmable or add-only memory of said first gaming device, said first information identifying at least a first hardware component of said first gaming device;
(b) transmitting said first information to said source;
(c) identifying said at least first hardware component with reference to said first information received from said first gaming device;
(d) verifying that said software is compatible with said at least first hardware component of said first gaming device and that said software is approved for use with said at least first hardware component of said first gaming device based on the gaming jurisdiction in which said first gaming device is located, wherein said first gaming device and a second gaming device in said network of gaming devices are configured differently;
(e) transmitting second information from said source to said first gaming device describing at least a first characteristic of said software and a request for an approval response verifying that said first gaming device is in a ready mode including determining if said first gaming device has current credits granted;
(f) transmitting said approval response from said first gaming device to said source indicating that said first gaming device is configured to receive said download;
(g) determining if said first gaming device has been idle for at least a designated amount of time;
(h) transmitting said software to a programmable memory in said first gaming device and third information identifying said software from said source to said first gaming device when said first gaming device has been idle for at least said designated amount of time; and
(i) storing said third information identifying said software in a second memory location of said one-time programmable or add-only memory of said first gaming device in association with said software and wherein said third information stored in said second memory location cannot be changed or erased.
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Abstract
Memories coupled to a gaming terminal, are reprogrammed by a method and apparatus which includes identification, negotiation, downloading and verification information from an external information source to a gaming terminal. Hardware devices are used to identify gaming terminals or components.
70 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A method for downloading software from a source to a first gaming device in a network of gaming devices, the method comprising:
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(a) accessing first information in a first memory location of a one-time programmable or add-only memory of said first gaming device, said first information identifying at least a first hardware component of said first gaming device; (b) transmitting said first information to said source; (c) identifying said at least first hardware component with reference to said first information received from said first gaming device; (d) verifying that said software is compatible with said at least first hardware component of said first gaming device and that said software is approved for use with said at least first hardware component of said first gaming device based on the gaming jurisdiction in which said first gaming device is located, wherein said first gaming device and a second gaming device in said network of gaming devices are configured differently; (e) transmitting second information from said source to said first gaming device describing at least a first characteristic of said software and a request for an approval response verifying that said first gaming device is in a ready mode including determining if said first gaming device has current credits granted; (f) transmitting said approval response from said first gaming device to said source indicating that said first gaming device is configured to receive said download; (g) determining if said first gaming device has been idle for at least a designated amount of time; (h) transmitting said software to a programmable memory in said first gaming device and third information identifying said software from said source to said first gaming device when said first gaming device has been idle for at least said designated amount of time; and (i) storing said third information identifying said software in a second memory location of said one-time programmable or add-only memory of said first gaming device in association with said software and wherein said third information stored in said second memory location cannot be changed or erased. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for downloading software from a source to a gaming device, the apparatus comprising:
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a processor and programming to carry out the steps of; accessing first information in a first memory location of a one-time programmable or add-only memory of said gaming device, said first information identifying at least a first hardware component of said gaming device and wherein said first information stored in said first memory location cannot be changed or erased; transmitting said first information to said source; identifying said at least first hardware component with reference to said first information received from said gaming device; verifying, based on said first information, that said software is appropriate for said at least first hardware component based on the gaming jurisdiction in which the gaming device is located; transmitting second information from said source to said gaming device describing at least a first characteristic of said software and a request for an approval response; verifying that said gaming device is in a ready mode by determining if said gaming device has current credits granted; transmitting the approval response from said gaming device to said source indicating that said gaming device is configured to receive said download; determining if said gaming device has been idle for at least a designated amount of time; transmitting said software to a programmable memory in said gaming device and third information identifying said software from said source to said gaming device via downloading means when said gaming device has been idle for at least said designated amount of time; and storing said third information identifying said software in a second memory location of said one-time programmable or add-only memory of said gaming device in association with said software and wherein said third information stored in said second memory location cannot be changed or erased. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A network of gaming devices, comprising:
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a first gaming device having at least a first hardware component and a first one-time programmable or add-only memory; a second gaming device having at least a first hardware component and a second one-time programmable or add-only memory, wherein the first and second gaming devices are configured differently and wherein information stored in a memory location of said first and second one-time programmable or add-only memories cannot be changed or erased; a source device in communication with the first and second gaming devices and including; software to be downloaded to at least one of the first and second gaming devices; a verifier for determining whether the software is appropriate for the at least one of the first and second gaming devices, the verifier accessing predetermined first information concerning a desired characteristic of at least one of the first and second gaming devices in a first memory location of at least one of the first and second one-time programmable add-only memories, and the verifier comparing first information, concerning a characteristic of at least one of the first and second gaming devices, to the predetermined first information to determine if the software is approved for use with at least one of the first and second gaming devices based on the gaming jurisdiction in which the at least one of the first and second gaming devices is located; a negotiator configured to determine that at least one of the first or second gaming devices is in a ready mode including determining if the first gaming device has current credits granted; a data transferor configured to transfer the software to a programmable memory of at least one of the first and second gaming devices after at least one of the first and second gaming devices has been idle for at least a designated amount of time; and a comparator configured to compare a signature received from a second memory location of at least one of the first and second one-time programmable or add-only memories, wherein the signature is stored in the second memory location such that it cannot be changed or erased, with a signature based at least partially on a random starting address and available to the source device. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification