License management method

Abstract

The license manager provides an automated process that reduces the need for human interaction associated with licensing components, distribution of the same, product distribution, debugging, product building, assembly, installation, configuration and maintenance. In addition, there is an interface for use by regulators that allows the regulators to test and to receive notifications from the license manager. Finally, there is a third party interface to facilitate equipment add-ons to the system. The license management system provides enablement/disablement of software products, generation and maintenance of accounting records, and logs for licenses that are generated and distributed throughout the system. An audit trail is also created that includes who authorized the purchase of the license, as well as audit trails relating to different system levels to verify system security. Finally, a change notification system provides for the control of any changes to the system and monitors these changes on a multi-tiered level within the system.

1 . A method for providing centralized management of licenses in a gaming environment, the method comprising:
 receiving a request to purchase a license;   authorizing the purchase of the license;   generating an authorization code;   placing the code in a central distribution center;   informing a local license manager of the authorization generation, which evaluates the authorization code and the request;   determining whether the authorization code and the request for a license should be accepting by examining a predetermined license policy;   accepting the authorization code and purchase request, if in accordance with the license policy; and   in response to license policy approval, downloading the authorization code to the gaming device and inserting the code to enable play of game associated with the code.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating and maintaining accounting records. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein generating and maintaining accounting records comprises generating audit trail that includes who authorized the purchase of the license. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein generating and maintaining accounting records comprises generating audit trails relating to different system levels to verify system security. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising providing a change notification system that provides for the control of any changes to the system and monitors these changes on a multi-tiered level within the system. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating and maintaining logs for licenses that are generated and distributed throughout the system. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the license management method is capable of being used in any sized establishment including large multiple property casinos, a single property casino, or a small convenience store, tavern, or bar. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein third parties are networked to the central distribution center through a secure Ethernet connection, allowing for two-way communication. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a regulator is also networked to the central distribution center through a secure Ethernet connection, also allowing for two-way communication via this path. 
   
   
       10 . A method for licenses in a gaming system, the method comprising:
 receiving a request for a license;   responding to the request by relaying the request;   requesting the license from central host and central license manager;   determining whether the request for the license should be accepting by examining a license policy;   creating the license, if in accordance with the license policy, and sending the license to local license manager which stores the license on the local distribution center;   transferring the license to the gaming device; and   enabling the gaming device to install the license and commence game play.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising generating and maintaining accounting records. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein generating and maintaining accounting records comprises generating audit trail that includes who authorized the purchase of the license. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein generating and maintaining accounting records comprises generating audit trails relating to different system levels to verify system security. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising providing a change notification system that provides for the control of any changes to the system and monitors these changes on a multi-tiered level within the system. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising generating and maintaining logs for licenses that are generated and distributed throughout the system. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the license management method is capable of being used in any sized establishment including large multiple property casinos, a single property casino, or a small convenience store, tavern, or bar. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein third parties are networked to the central distribution center through a secure Ethernet connection, allowing for two-way communication. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a regulator is also networked to the central distribution center through a secure Ethernet connection, also allowing for two-way communication via this path. 
   
   
       19 . A method for providing centralized management of licenses in a gaming environment, the method comprising:
 enabling a local site operator and a local license manager to send commands to a central host and a central license manager, wherein said commands include requesting product with associated license numbers;   enabling the central license manager to receive all the license requests, check and clear a central software license database, and prepare a central distribution center to be available for access by the local license manager;   enabling the central license manager to send billing requests to a finance billing manager;   notifying the local site operator and the local license manager that all licenses requested by the local site operator are available, in place at the central distribution center, and ready for download;   notifying the system management point console that the local site operator has the permission to access and retrieve the requested licenses;   informing a requesting gaming device to download and install the product and associated license to allow use of the product;   using a provided ID and password to perform secure download retrieval of the product and associated license from the central distribution center to the gaming device; and   installing the products on the gaming device which is enabled via the associated license.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the notifying of the local site operator and the local license manager that all licenses requested by the local site operator are available, in place at the central distribution center, and ready for download, is performed using the central license manager. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the notifying of the system management point console that the local site operator has the permission to access and retrieve the requested license, is performed using the local license manager. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the informing of the requesting gaming device to download and install the product and associated license to allow use of the product, is performed using the system management point console. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the license management method is capable of being used in any sized establishment including large multiple property casinos, a single property casino, or a small convenience store, tavern, or bar. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein third parties are networked to the central distribution center through a secure Ethernet connection, allowing for two-way communication. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein a regulator is also networked to the central distribution center through a secure Ethernet connection, also allowing for two-way communication via this path. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising generating and maintaining accounting records. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein generating and maintaining accounting records comprises generating audit trail that includes who authorized the purchase of the license. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein generating and maintaining accounting records comprises generating audit trails relating to different system levels to verify system security. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising providing a change notification system that provides for the control of any changes to the system and monitors these changes on a multi-tiered level within the system. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising generating and maintaining logs for licenses that are generated and distributed throughout the system. 
   
   
       31 . A method for providing centralized management of licenses in a gaming environment, the method comprising:
 receiving license request from an gaming device;   requesting a license to be sent from central distribution center to gaming device;   responding to the request for the license by relaying the request to local license manager, via the central distribution center;   requesting the license from central host and central license manager using the local license manager;   creating the license via the central license manager and sending the license to the local license manager, which stores the license on local distribution center;   transferring the license to the gaming device via the local distribution center; and   installing the license on the gaming device and enabling game play.   
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising generating and maintaining accounting records. 
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein generating and maintaining accounting records comprises generating audit trail that includes who authorized the purchase of the license. 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein generating and maintaining accounting records comprises generating audit trails relating to different system levels to verify system security. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising providing a change notification system that provides for the control of any changes to the system and monitors these changes on a multi-tiered level within the system. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising generating and maintaining logs for licenses that are generated and distributed throughout the system. 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the license management method is capable of being used in any sized establishment including large multiple property casinos, a single property casino, or a small convenience store, tavern, or bar. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein third parties are networked to the central distribution center through a secure Ethernet connection, allowing for two-way communication. 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein a regulator is also networked to the central distribution center through a secure Ethernet connection, also allowing for two-way communication via this path.