Gaming machine critical data memory system and method

Abstract

A gaming machine with a critical data memory system is provided for high speed and permanent storage and retention of critical data. The gaming machine includes high speed NV-RAM queue memory for secure, temporary storage of critical data and mass storage permanent memory for long term, secure storage of critical data. Additionally, operating procedures for storing, verifying, and correcting the stored critical data are provided.

1 . An electronic gaming machine comprising:
 a video output device;   a play controller device;   a processor connected to the video output device and the controller; and   a memory system comprising at least one non-volatile memory device and at least one permanent memory device each operably associated with the processor said processor being programmed to effect storage of critical data in the non-volatile queue memory, write the critical data to the permanent mass-storage memory, verify the accuracy of the critical data in the permanent memory and when verified permit deletion and/or overwriting of the verified critical data in the non-volatile memory.   
   
   
       2 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the memory system including at least two permanent memory devices. 
   
   
       3 . The gaming machine of  claim 2  wherein at least one of the permanent memory devices including a disk drive. 
   
   
       4 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the memory system including at least two non-volatile memory devices. 
   
   
       5 . The gaming machine of  claim 4  wherein at least one of non-volatile memory devices including a solid state memory device. 
   
   
       6 . The gaming machine of  claim 4  wherein at least two of said non-volatile memory devices each including a solid state memory device. 
   
   
       7 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein at least one said non-volatile memory device including a back-up power source. 
   
   
       8 . The gaming machine of  claim 7  wherein the back-up power source including a battery. 
   
   
       9 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the video output device including a display screen. 
   
   
       10 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the play controller including at least one of a push button, joy stick and touch screen. 
   
   
       11 . The gaming machine of  claim 1  wherein the non-volatile memory device and the permanent memory device being configured as a virtual memory device. 
   
   
       12 . The gaming device of  claim 1  wherein there being at least two said non-volatile memory devices and at least two said permanent memory devices. 
   
   
       13 . A method of storing critical data on a gaming machine, the method including:
 generating critical data regarding operation of the gaming machine;   writing at least a portion of the generated critical data to a first secure memory;   writing the critical data stored in the first secure memory to a second secure memory thereby providing at least a first and a second set of the critical data; and   comparing the set of critical data in the second secure memory to the set of critical data in the first secure memory and when the first and second sets of critical data are verified as being the same, permitting deletion and/or overwriting of the set of critical data in the first secure memory.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  including;
 generating a third set of critical data; writing the third set of critical to the first secure memory;   writing the third set of critical data to the second secure memory to make a fourth set of critical data;   comparing the fourth set of critical data to the third set of critical data and when the first and second sets of critical data are verified as being the same, permitting deletion and/or overwriting of the third set of critical data; and   maintaining the second and fourth sets of critical data in said second secure memory for an extended period of time.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  including storing a plurality of copies of each of the second and fourth sets of critical data in the second secure memory. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  including storing a plurality of copies of each of the first and third sets of critical data in the first secure memory. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15  including comparing each of the copies of the second and fourth sets of critical data to the first and second sets of critical data respectively and when two or more of the copies of respective sets of critical data are verified as the same then permitting the overwriting and/or deleting of the respective critical data sets from the first secure memory. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first and second secure memories being configured as virtual memory. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the first secure memory including non-volatile ram and the second secure memory including permanent memory. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the permanent memory including at least one disk drive.