Gaming Device with Resources Swapping

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention include a method for conserving memory storage on a gaming machine. The method includes creating a resource file and caching the resource file in RAM on a gaming machine; determining whether the resource file is accessed more than a preselected number of times within a preselected time interval; caching the resource file in a SWAP store as a SWAP file if the resource file has not been accessed the preselected number of times within the preselected time interval; monitoring the number of times the SWAP file is accessed within a preselected period of time; and caching the SWAP file as a resource file in RAM of the gaming machine if the SWAP file is accessed a number of preselected times or more.

1 . A method for conserving memory storage on a gaming machine, comprising:
 Creating a resource file and caching the resource file in RAM on a gaming machine;   Determining whether the resource file is accessed more than a preselected number of times within a preselected time interval;   Caching the resource file in a SWAP store as a SWAP file if the resource file has not been accessed the preselected number of times within the preselected time interval;   Monitoring the number of times the SWAP file is accessed within a preselected period of time; and   Caching the SWAP file as a resource file in RAM of the gaming machine if the SWAP file is accessed a number of preselected times or more.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the resource file comprises one or more of an image, animation or a sound. 
   
   
       3 . (canceled) 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the resource file is instantiated to create a cached resource object. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the cached resource object maintains a reference to a cached image. 
   
   
       6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . (canceled) 
   
   
       8 . (canceled) 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising copying the cached image into the SWAP file. 
   
   
       10 . (canceled) 
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the cached resource object tracks a number of references that wish to show an image associated with the cached resource object. 
   
   
       13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . (canceled) 
   
   
       15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . (canceled) 
   
   
       17 . A method for increasing the number of images, animations, and sounds on a gaming machine, the method comprising:
 Creating one or more resource files associated with one or more games and caching the one or more resource files in RAM on the gaming machine;   Determining whether the one or more resource files is accessed more than a preselected number of times within a preselected time interval;   Caching one or more of the resource filea in a SWAP store as one or more SWAP files if the one or more resource files has not been accessed the preselected number of times within the preselected time interval;   Monitoring the number of times the one or more “SWAP files are accessed within a preselected period of time; and   Caching the one or more SWAP files as one or more resource files in RAM of the gaming machine if the SWAP file is accessed a number of preselected times or more.   
   
   
       18 . (canceled) 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the resource file is stored in a resource store. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the resource file is instantiated to create a cached resource object. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the cached resource object maintains a reference to a cached image. 
   
   
       22 . (canceled) 
   
   
       23 . (canceled) 
   
   
       24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising copying the cached image into the SWAP file. 
   
   
       26 . (canceled) 
   
   
       27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the cached resource object tracks a number of references that wish to show an image associated with the cached resource object. 
   
   
       29 . (canceled) 
   
   
       30 . (canceled) 
   
   
       31 . (canceled) 
   
   
       32 . (canceled) 
   
   
       33 . A gaming machine comprising:
 RAM;   A plurality of resource files stored on RAM, wherein the resource files have been accessed a preselected number of times or more over a preselected time interval;   A SWAP store; and   A plurality of SWAP files cached on the SWAP store.   
   
   
       34 . (canceled) 
   
   
       35 . (canceled) 
   
   
       36 . The gaming machine of  claim 33  wherein the resource file is instantiated to create a cached resource object. 
   
   
       37 . (canceled) 
   
   
       38 . (canceled) 
   
   
       39 . A Computer Readable Medium for conserving memory storage on a gaming machine, the computer readable medium comprising:
 Creating a resource file and caching the resource file in RAM on a gaming machine;   Determining whether the resource file is accessed more than a preselected number of times within a preselected time interval;   Caching the resource file in a SWAP store as a SWAP file if the resource file has not been accessed the preselected number of times within the preselected time interval;   Monitoring the number of times the SWAP file is accessed within a preselected period of time; and   Caching the SWAP file as a resource file in RAM of the gaming machine if the SWAP file is accessed a number of preselected times or more.   
   
   
       40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . (canceled) 
   
   
       42 . The Computer Readable Medium of  claim 39  wherein the resource file is instantiated to create a cached resource object. 
   
   
       43 . The Computer Readable Medium of  claim 42  wherein the cached resource object maintains a reference to a cached image. 
   
   
       44 . (canceled) 
   
   
       45 . (canceled) 
   
   
       46 . (canceled) 
   
   
       47 . The Computer Readable Medium of  claim 42 , further comprising copying the cached image into the SWAP file. 
   
   
       48 . (canceled) 
   
   
       49 . (canceled) 
   
   
       50 . The Computer Readable Medium of  claim 42 , wherein the cached resource object tracks a number of references that wish to show an image associated with the cached resource object. 
   
   
       51 . (canceled) 
   
   
       52 . (canceled) 
   
   
       53 . (canceled) 
   
   
       54 . The Computer Readable Medium of  claim 43  wherein when the cached resource object is destroyed, the cached resource object deletes the cached image and corresponding SWAP file.