N-tier architecture for a casino management system and method

Abstract

The present invention provides a system and method for gaming system configuration and control in a gaming environment. Certain embodiments include receiving a request for an application to execute at a gaming system, and routing the request to an appropriate application server to provide the application at the gaming system. The request may be routed based on a status of a plurality of application servers, for example. The method may also include verifying that the gaming system is authorized to execute the application. In an embodiment, the method includes distributing a request for data among a plurality of database servers. The method may further include updating an application at the gaming system prior to execution of the application. In an embodiment, the application is automatically updated prior to execution. The method may also include detecting alteration of an application prior to execution of the application.

1 . A gaming network including:
 a gaming-related device arranged to run an application, and place a request for an update of said application;   an application server in communication with said gaming-related device to receive said request from said gaming-related device; and   a local live update application running on the application server, downloading an authenticable update for said application to said gaming-related device based on said request, and authenticate said updated application when said gaming-related device launches said updated application.   
     
     
         2 . The gaming network of  claim 1 , wherein said gaming-related device includes at least one of a slot machine, an electronic gaming machine, a player tracking module, a casino workstation, a mid-tier server, a database server, a license server, and/or a second application server. 
     
     
         3 . The gaming network of  claim 1 , wherein said gaming-related device is one of a plurality of application servers. 
     
     
         4 . The gaming network of  claim 1 , wherein said application server is adapted to service said request from the gaming-related device. 
     
     
         5 . The gaming network of  claim 4 , wherein said request is a request for a downloadable game. 
     
     
         6 . The gaming network of  claim 1 , wherein said update for said application is provided based on said request from said gaming-related device. 
     
     
         7 . The gaming network of  claim 1 , wherein said update for said application is provided before said application is launched on said gaming-related device. 
     
     
         8 . The gaming network of  claim 1 , wherein said update for the application is provided while said application is launched on said gaming-related device. 
     
     
         9 . The gaming network of  claim 1 , wherein said update for said application is provided after said application is launched on said gaming-related device. 
     
     
         10 . The gaming network of  claim 1 , wherein said update for said application is provided when said application on said gaming-related device is determined to have been altered. 
     
     
         11 . The gaming network of  claim 1 , wherein said local live update application receives said update for said application from a database. 
     
     
         12 . The gaming network of  claim 11 , wherein said database is a database from a third party. 
     
     
         13 . The gaming network of  claim 12 , wherein said third-party is a manufacturer of said gaming-related device. 
     
     
         14 . The gaming network of  claim 12 , wherein said third-party is a creator of said application. 
     
     
         15 . The gaming network of  claim 11 , wherein said gaming-related device is located in a gaming establishment, and wherein said database is external to said gaming establishment. 
     
     
         16 . The gaming network of  claim 1 , wherein said gaming-related device includes said application server. 
     
     
         17 . The gaming network of  claim 1 , further including a license server adapted to verify a license for said application. 
     
     
         18 . The gaming network of  claim 17 , wherein said gaming-related device verifies said application using said license server prior to running said application. 
     
     
         19 . The gaming network of  claim 17 , wherein said local live update application verifies a license for said update for said application using said license server. 
     
     
         20 . The gaming network of  claim 19 , wherein said license is verified before said update is provided. 
     
     
         21 . The gaming network of  claim 19 , wherein said license is verified while said update is provided. 
     
     
         22 . The gaming network of  claim 1 , wherein said gaming-related device includes a stub/loader application adapted to request said update from said application server. 
     
     
         23 . The gaming network of  claim 22 , wherein said stub/loader application is adapted to verify said application. 
     
     
         24 . The gaming network of  claim 22 , wherein said stub/loader application is adapted to detect an alteration of said application. 
     
     
         25 . The gaming network of  claim 22 , wherein said stub/loader application is adapted to determine if said application has a license. 
     
     
         26 . The gaming network of  claim 22 , wherein said stub/loader application stores a unique identifier to indicate that said application has been approved. 
     
     
         27 . The gaming network of  claim 1 , wherein said application server is one of a plurality of application servers, the gaming network further including a load balancer adapted to automatically distribute said request from said gaming-related device to said plurality of application servers. 
     
     
         28 . The gaming network of  claim 1 , wherein said local live update application is adapted to use a mutex object to prevent running said application in an unknown state. 
     
     
         29 . The gaming network of  claim 1 , wherein said local live update application is adapted to provide a rollback of said application. 
     
     
         30 . The gaming network of  claim 1 , wherein said application server is adapted to run one or more service applications to provide services. 
     
     
         31 . The gaming network of  claim 30 , wherein said local live update application is adapted to update at least one of the one or more service applications. 
     
     
         32 . The gaming network of  claim 30 , wherein said application server is adapted to run at least one of an accounting application, a player tracking application, a progressive gaming service, a browsing service, and/or a cashless play service. 
     
     
         33 . A method for updating an application on a gaming network having a controller, the method including:
 running via a controller a local live update application on an application server;   receiving via said controller a request for an update of said application at said application server;   downloading an authenticable update of said application to the gaming-related device via said local live update application;   authenticating said authenticable update of said application when said gaming-related device launches said authenticable update of said application; and   updating said authenticated application on the gaming-related device based on the updated application.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said gaming-related device includes at least one of a slot machine, an electronic gaming machine, a player tracking module, a casino workstation, a mid-tier server, a database server, a license server, and/or a second application server. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , further including detecting an alteration of said application, where said updated application is requested when said alteration is detected. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , further including verifying a license for said application. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said local live update application receives said updated application from a database of a third-party, wherein said third-party is at least one of a manufacturer of said gaming device and/or a creator of said game application. 
     
     
         38 . A method for data distribution in a gaming network having a controller, the method including:
 storing data relating to a particular event to at least one subscriber at an information source;   publishing said information source at an application server; and   providing said data using said information source based at least in part on said event.   
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said information source includes at least one of an accounting application, a player tracking application, a progressive gaming service, a browsing service, and/or a cashless play service. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 38 , further including subscribing to said information source at a gaming-related device. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said event includes at least one of a jackpot event, a bonus time alert, and/or a tournament alert. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said data is provided to a news reporting server.