MRAM as nonvolatile safe storage for power hit and ESD tolerance in gaming machines

Abstract

Gaming machines and systems having MRAM and MROM are disclosed. MROMs for storing boot programs and other Read Only code are formed by cutting write connections or not providing PCB socket leads to MRAM write pins, or by using memory hubs to prevent writing to MRAMs. A tale-tale board or other logging device monitoring activities at various components while primary machine power is down records to MRAM, which can be dual ported to the logging device and MGC. Various components can each have dedicated logging devices and MRAMs. One MRAM associated with the brain box replaces both DRAM and NVRAM of regular machine architectures, and is used for dual purposes of regular operational use and as safe storage to facilitate a state recovery. Prioritization of data during the storage process is rendered unnecessary. Another MRAM associated with the back plane board stores data associated with the exterior housing or terminal.

1 . A gaming machine adapted for accepting a wager, playing a game based on the wager and granting a payout based on the result of the game, comprising: 
 an exterior housing arranged to contain a plurality of internal gaming machine components therein or thereabout;    a master gaming controller adapted to control one or more aspects of said game and to communicate instructions to at least one of said plurality of internal gaming machine components;    a memory hub in communication with said master gaming controller and configured to facilitate communications between said master gaming controller and one or more of said plurality of internal gaming machine components;    a first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device associated with said master gaming controller and in communication with said memory hub and said master gaming controller, wherein at least a portion of said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device is configured to store primary gaming machine data or computer code thereupon for the dual purposes of both regular gaming machine operational use by said master gaming controller and as safe storage to facilitate a gaming machine state recovery in the event of a substantial interruption to said gaming machine; and    a second Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device associated with said exterior housing and in communication with said memory hub and said master gaming controller, wherein at least a portion of said second Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device is configured to store auxiliary gaming machine data or computer code thereupon for gaming associated with said exterior housing regardless of whether said master gaming controller is also so associated.    
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein said substantial interruption to said gaming machine is selected from one or more items of the group consisting of: a power outage, a substantial electrostatic discharge, a gaming machine reset, a critical hardware malfunction, a critical software malfunction, a gaming machine tilt and physical damage to a critical gaming machine component.  
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein said at least a portion of said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device is used as a singular replacement for both DRAM and NVRAM in a regular gaming machine architecture.  
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said primary gaming machine data or computer code stored on said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device is not stored at any other gaming machine component other than said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device.  
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device, said second Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device, or both are adapted to provide the respective gaming system data or computer code stored thereupon to said master gaming controller at a rate faster than 66 MHz.  
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 5 , wherein said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device, said second Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device, or both are adapted to provide the respective gaming system data or computer code stored thereupon to said master gaming controller at a rate faster than 133 MHz.  
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 6 , wherein said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device, said second Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device, or both are adapted to provide the respective gaming system data or computer code stored thereupon to said master gaming controller at a rate of about 800 MHz or faster.  
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device, said second Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device, or both are in communication with said master gaming controller indirectly through said memory hub.  
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein said memory hub comprises at least one application specific integrated circuit.  
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein only one copy of said primary gaming machine data or computer code is stored on said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device.  
   
   
       11 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein multiple copies of said primary gaming machine data or computer code are stored on said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device.  
   
   
       12 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein said primary gaming machine data or computer code stored on said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device includes data regarding a gaming machine state.  
   
   
       13 . The gaming machine of  claim 12 , wherein said data regarding a gaming machine state is stored on said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device without prioritizing any of said data during the storage process.  
   
   
       14 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , wherein one or more items of said auxiliary gaming machine data or computer code stored at said second Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device are selected from the group consisting of: cabinet meter data, country designation, accounting denomination, machine yield data, progressive jackpot data, volume setting, overall gaming machine configuration data, and backup data or computer code for said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device.  
   
   
       15 . The gaming machine of  claim 14 , wherein said gaming machine is adapted to update at least one of said one or more items of said auxiliary gaming machine data or computer code stored at said second Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device after every play of a game on said gaming machine.  
   
   
       16 . The gaming machine of  claim 1 , further including: 
 a brain box adapted to contain said master gaming controller, said memory hub and said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device, said brain box being removable from said exterior housing; and    a back plane board adapted to contain said second Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device, said back plane board being adapted to remain with said exterior housing when said brain box is removed therefrom.    
   
   
       17 . A gaming system adapted for accepting wagers, playing games based on the wagers and granting payouts based on the results of the games, comprising: 
 a plurality of input and output devices adapted to accept wagers, play games and grant payouts based on the results of the games;    a master gaming controller adapted to control one or more aspects of said games and to communicate instructions to at least one of said plurality of input and output devices;    a memory hub in communication with said master gaming controller and configured to facilitate communications between said master gaming controller and one or more of said plurality of input and output devices; and    a first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device associated with said master gaming controller and in communication with said memory hub and said master gaming controller, wherein at least a portion of said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device is configured to store gaming system data or computer code thereupon for the dual purposes of regular gaming system operational use by said master gaming controller and as safe storage to facilitate a gaming system state recovery in the event of a substantial interruption to said gaming system.    
   
   
       18 . The gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein said substantial interruption to said gaming system is selected from one or more items of the group consisting of: a power outage, a substantial electrostatic discharge, a reset, a critical hardware malfunction, a critical software malfunction, a tilt and physical damage to a critical component, any of which may apply to the entire gaming system or to a significant portion thereof, including a single gaming machine within said gaming system.  
   
   
       19 . The gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein said at least a portion of said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device is used as a singular replacement for both DRAM and NVRAM in a regular gaming machine or gaming system architecture.  
   
   
       20 . The gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein said gaming machine data or computer code stored on said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device is not stored at any other gaming system component other than said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device.  
   
   
       21 . The gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device is adapted to provide said gaming system data or computer code stored thereupon to said master gaming controller at a rate faster than 66 MHz.  
   
   
       22 . The gaming system of  claim 21 , wherein said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device is adapted to provide said gaming system data or computer code stored thereupon to said master gaming controller at a rate of about 800 MHz or faster.  
   
   
       23 . The gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device is in communication with said master gaming controller indirectly through said memory hub.  
   
   
       24 . The gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein only one copy of said gaming system data or computer code is stored on said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device.  
   
   
       25 . The gaming system of  claim 17 , wherein said gaming system data or computer code stored on said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device includes data regarding a state of said gaming system or a gaming machine within said gaming system.  
   
   
       26 . The gaming system of  claim 25 , wherein said data regarding a gaming system state or a gaming machine state is stored on said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device without prioritizing any of said data during the storage process.  
   
   
       27 . The gaming system of  claim 17 , further including: 
 a physical terminal adapted to present gaming results to a player of said gaming system; and    a second Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device associated with said physical terminal and in communication with said memory hub and said master gaming controller, wherein at least a portion of said second Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device is configured to store auxiliary gaming system data or computer code thereupon for gaming associated with said physical terminal regardless of whether said master gaming controller is also so associated.    
   
   
       28 . The gaming system of  claim 27 , wherein said physical terminal comprises a gaming machine.  
   
   
       29 . The gaming system of  claim 28 , further including: 
 a brain box adapted to contain said master gaming controller, said memory hub and said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device, said brain box being removable from said gaming machine; and    a back plane board adapted to contain said second Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device, said back plane board being adapted to remain with said gaming machine when said brain box is removed therefrom.    
   
   
       30 . The gaming system of  claim 27 , wherein one or more items of said auxiliary gaming system data or computer code stored at said second Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device are selected from the group consisting of: physical terminal meter data, country designation, accounting denomination, physical terminal yield data, progressive jackpot data, volume setting, overall physical terminal configuration data, and backup data or computer code for said first Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device.  
   
   
       31 . The gaming system of  claim 30 , wherein said gaming system is adapted to update at least one of said one or more items of said auxiliary gaming system data or computer code stored at said second Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device after every play of a game at said physical terminal.  
   
   
       32 . A gaming machine adapted for accepting a wager, playing a game based on the wager and granting a payout based on the result of the game, comprising: 
 a display adapted to present said game to a player of said gaming machine;    a master gaming controller adapted to control one or more aspects of said game and to communicate instructions to said display; and    at least one primary Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device in communication with said master gaming controller, wherein said at least one primary Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device is configured to store gaming machine data or computer code thereupon for the dual purposes of regular gaming machine operational use by said master gaming controller and as safe storage to facilitate a gaming machine state recovery in the event of a substantial interruption to said gaming machine.    
   
   
       33 . The gaming machine of  claim 32 , wherein at least a portion of said at least one primary Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device is incorporated within said master gaming controller itself.  
   
   
       34 . The gaming machine of  claim 32 , wherein said at least one primary Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device is adapted to provide said gaming machine data or computer code stored thereupon to said master gaming controller at a rate of about 800 MHz or faster.  
   
   
       35 . The gaming machine of  claim 32 , wherein said gaming machine data or computer code stored on said at least one primary Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device includes data regarding a gaming machine state.  
   
   
       36 . The gaming machine of  claim 35 , wherein said data regarding a gaming machine state is stored on said at least one primary Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device without prioritizing any of said data during the storage process.  
   
   
       37 . The gaming machine of  claim 32 , further including: 
 at least one secondary Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device associated with said display and in communication with said master gaming controller, wherein at least a portion of said at least one secondary Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device is configured to store auxiliary gaming system data or computer code thereupon for gaming associated with said display regardless of whether said master gaming controller is also so associated.    
   
   
       38 . The gaming system of  claim 37 , further including: 
 a brain box adapted to contain said master gaming controller and one or more of said at least one primary Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device, said brain box being removable from said gaming machine; and    a back plane board adapted to contain one or more of said at least one second Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device, said back plane board being adapted to remain with said gaming machine when said brain box is removed therefrom.    
   
   
       39 . The gaming machine of  claim 37 , wherein one or more items of said auxiliary gaming system data or computer code stored at said at least one secondary Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device are selected from the group consisting of: meter data, country designation, accounting denomination, machine yield data, progressive jackpot data, volume setting, overall gaming machine configuration data, and backup data or computer code for said at least one primary Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device.  
   
   
       40 . The gaming machine of  claim 39 , wherein said gaming machine is adapted to update at least one of said one or more items of said auxiliary gaming system data or computer code stored at said at least one secondary Random Access Memory magnetoresistive storage device after every play of a game at said gaming machine.  
   
   
       41 . A method of operating a gaming machine comprising: 
 detecting an occurrence of a critical event affecting a state of said gaming machine, said gaming machine adapted for accepting a wager, playing a game based on the wager and granting a payout based on the result of the game;    storing data relating to said detected critical event at a first storage device associated with said gaming machine;    asserting a specific state of said gaming machine based on said stored data;    reading said stored data from said first storage device;    conducting one or more regular gaming machine operations based upon said reading of said stored data;    experiencing a substantial interruption to regular gaming machine operations at said gaming machine;    rereading said stored data from said first storage device, said rereading step taking place after said experiencing step; and    reasserting said specific state of said gaming machine based upon said rereading of said data.    
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said critical event is selected from one or more items of the group consisting of: a coin in, a bill in, a cashless instrument in, a meter change, a game selection, a player input, a partial game outcome, a complete game outcome, a coin out, and a cashless instrument out.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said first storage device comprises a magnetoresistive storage device.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said asserting step includes displaying data regarding at least a portion of said specific state at a display of said gaming machine.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein said substantial interruption to regular gaming machine operations at said gaming machine is selected from one or more items of the group consisting of: a power outage, a substantial electrostatic discharge, a gaming machine reset, a critical hardware malfunction, a critical software malfunction, a gaming machine tilt and physical damage to a critical gaming machine component.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein at least one of said one or more regular gaming machine operations is selected from the group consisting of: a meter change, a meter display, a game selection, a game play, a partial game outcome, a complete game outcome, a game display, a coin out, a cashless instrument out, a machine yield calculation, an informational display and a data communication.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 41 , further including the step of: 
 establishing a stable power input to said gaming machine and stable communications within said gaming machine after said experiencing step.