Electronic casino gaming system with improved play capacity, authentication and security

Abstract

The electronic casino gaming system consists of several system components, including a microprocessor ( 12 ), a main memory unit ( 13 ) that is typically a random access memory, and a system boot ROM ( 14 ). Also included in the electronic casino gaming system are a non-volatile RAM ( 17 ), a mass storage unit ( 18 ), a disk subsystem ( 19 ), and a PCI bus ( 20 ). The disk subsystem ( 19 ) preferably supports SCSI-2 with options of fast and wide. A video subsystem ( 22 ) is also included in the electronic casino gaming system and is coupled to the PCI bus ( 20 ) to provide full color still images and MPEG movies.

1. An electronic gaming system for providing authentication of a data set associated with a casino type game, said system comprising:
 (a) a first storage means for storing a game data set and a game signature comprising an encrypted version of a unique primary abbreviated game bit string computed from said game data set;    (b) a second storage means for storing, 
 an anchor application including a first authentication program capable of determining the validity of said game data set by, 
 computing a complementary abbreviated game bit string from said game data set,  
 decrypting said game signature set to recover said primary abbreviated game bit string,  
 comparing said complementary abbreviated game bit string with said primary abbreviated game bit string to determine whether a match is present, and  
 
 an anchor signature including an encrypted version of a unique primary abbreviated anchor bit string computed from said anchor application;  
   (c) a third storage means for storing a second authentication program capable of determining the validity of said anchor application by, 
 computing a complementary abbreviated anchor bit string from said anchor application,  
 decrypting said anchor signature to recover said primary abbreviated anchor bit string, and  
 comparing said complementary abbreviated anchor bit string with said primary abbreviated anchor bit string to determine whether a match is present; and  
   (d) processing means for enabling said first authentication program to determine the validity of said game data set and for enabling said second authentication program to determine the validity of said anchor application.    
     
     
       2. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a fourth storage means for storing basic input/output system (BIOS) code. 
     
     
       3. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 2  wherein said fourth storage means is an unalterable ROM device. 
     
     
       4. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said third storage means further stores operating system code, operating system drivers, and bootstrap code. 
     
     
       5. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first storage means and said second storage means comprise a single mass storage means. 
     
     
       6. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first storage means is a mass storage memory device. 
     
     
       7. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said third storage means is an unalterable read only memory. 
     
     
       8. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first storage means is a CD ROM. 
     
     
       9. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first storage means is a hard disk drive. 
     
     
       10. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said first storage means comprises a network storage system which is remote from the electronic gaming system. 
     
     
       11. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said second storage means comprises a network storage system which is remote from the electronic gaming system. 
     
     
       12. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said game data set is a game-modifying data set for changing game rules parameters of the casino type game. 
     
     
       13. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said game-modifying data set includes a money handler modifying data set for changing money handling parameters of the casino type game. 
     
     
       14. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said game-modifying data sets include a graphics modifying data set for changing graphics parameters of the casino type game. 
     
     
       15. An electronic gaming system as recited in  claim 12  wherein said game-modifying data sets include a sound driver modifying data set for changing sound parameters of the casino type game. 
     
     
       16. A casino gaming apparatus, comprising:
   a casino game console;        a video display unit;        a main memory providing an executable space for a processor, said main memory being disposed in said casino game console;        a disk memory having gaming data relating to a casino game stored therein;        a nonvolatile memory operable to store gaming data at least related to the play of the casino game; and        a memory storing an operating system, said memory being disposed in said casino game console, wherein the operating system is enabled to control the disk memory and wherein the operating system is authenticated prior to the gaming data relating to the casino game;        the processor disposed in said casino game console and being operatively coupled to said video display unit, said main memory, said nonvolatile memory, said memory and said disk memory,        said processor operable to cause said gaming data stored in said disk memory to be transferred to said main memory,        said processor operable to cause said gaming data that was transferred from said disk memory to said main memory to be authenticated based on comparison of a message digest generated by performing a one - way hash function on said gaming data being authenticated with a message digest previously generated by performing a one - way hash function on known gaming data, each of said one - way hash functions producing a fixed - size string of bits, and        said processor causing a remedial action to be taken if said gaming data transferred from said disk memory to said main memory is not authentic as determined by said processor.     
     
     
       17. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 16  wherein the operating system is adapted for allowing access to files in a file system on the disk memory. 
     
     
       18. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 16  wherein said disk memory comprises an optical disk. 
     
     
       19. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 16  further comprising at least one peripheral device coupled to the gaming console, the peripheral device including a memory device wherein the processor is operable to authenticate contents of the memory device. 
     
     
       20. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 16  wherein said disk memory comprises a magnetic hard disk. 
     
     
       21. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 16  wherein said disk memory is operable as a read- only memory.   
     
     
       22. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 16  wherein the disk memory is disposed in said casino game console. 
     
     
       23. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 16  wherein the disk memory is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console. 
     
     
       24. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 16  wherein the nonvolatile memory is disposed in said casino game console. 
     
     
       25. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 16  wherein the nonvolatile memory is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console. 
     
     
       26. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 16  wherein the video display unit is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console. 
     
     
       27. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 16  further comprising a video subsystem, operatively coupled to the video display unit and operatively coupled to the processor, the video subsystem adapted for displaying still images, motion video or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       28. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 16  wherein the processor is operable to generate a plurality of different casino games and wherein the plurality of different games are stored on the disk memory. 
     
     
       29. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 16  wherein in response to receiving a selection of a first casino game from a plurality of different casino games, the casino gaming apparatus is operable to generate a play of the first casino game on the casino gaming apparatus. 
     
     
       30. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 16  further comprising a sound- generating apparatus operatively coupled to the processor.   
     
     
       31. A casino gaming apparatus, comprising:
   a casino game console;        a video display unit;        a main memory providing an executable space for a processor disposed in said casino game console;        a disk memory having gaming data relating to a casino game including program data and image data stored therein;        a memory storing software for controlling the disk memory wherein the software is authenticated prior to the gaming data related to the casino game; and        a nonvolatile memory operable to store gaming data at least related to the play of the casino game;        the processor disposed in said casino game console and being operatively coupled to said video display unit, said main memory, said memory, said nonvolatile memory and said disk memory, and        said processor operable to cause said gaming data to be authenticated based on a comparison of a first hash value generated from at least a portion of said gaming data relating to the casino game with a second hash value generated from known gaming data.     
     
     
       32. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 31  further comprising a memory storing logic for an operating system. 
     
     
       33. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 32  further comprising a secure loader adapted to control a loading of the portions of the gaming data related to the casino game from the disk memory. 
     
     
       34. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 32  wherein the logic for the operating system is authenticated prior to loading the portions of the casino game from the disk memory. 
     
     
       35. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 31  wherein the operating system is adapted for allowing access to files in a file system on the disk memory. 
     
     
       36. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 31  wherein said disk memory comprises an optical disk. 
     
     
       37. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 31  further comprising at least one peripheral device coupled to the gaming console including a memory device wherein the processor is operable to authenticate contents of the memory device. 
     
     
       38. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 31  wherein said disk memory comprises a magnetic hard disk. 
     
     
       39. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 31  wherein said disk memory is operable as a read- only memory.   
     
     
       40. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 31  wherein the disk memory is disposed in said casino game console. 
     
     
       41. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 31  wherein the disk memory is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console. 
     
     
       42. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 31  wherein the nonvolatile memory is disposed in said casino game console. 
     
     
       43. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 31  wherein the nonvolatile memory is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console. 
     
     
       44. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 31  wherein the video display unit is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console. 
     
     
       45. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 31  further comprising a video subsystem, operatively coupled to the video display unit and operatively coupled to the processor, adapted for displaying still images, motion video or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       46. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 31  wherein the processor is operable to generate a plurality of different casino games and wherein the plurality of different games are stored on the disk memory. 
     
     
       47. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 31  wherein in response to receiving a selection of a first casino game from a plurality of different casino games, the casino gaming apparatus is operable to generate a play of the first casino game on the casino gaming apparatus. 
     
     
       48. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 31  further comprising a sound- generating apparatus operatively coupled to the processor.   
     
     
       49. A casino gaming apparatus, comprising:
   a casino game console;        a video display unit;        a main memory providing an executable space for a processor, said main memory being disposed in said casino game console;        a disk memory, said disk memory having gaming data relating to a casino game stored therein; and        a memory storing system logic for reading files in a file system on the disk memory wherein the system logic is authenticated prior to authenticating the gaming data, said memory being disposed in said casino game console;        the processor disposed in said casino game console and being operatively coupled to said video display unit, said main memory, said memory and said disk memory,        said processor operable to cause said gaming data to be authenticated based on a comparison of data generated by said processor from a hash function applied to said gaming data with data generated from the hash function applied to known gaming data, and        said processor operable to cause a remedial action to be taken based on an outcome of said authentication of said gaming data.     
     
     
       50. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 49  wherein the memory is an unalterable memory separate from the main memory and separate from the disk the memory. 
     
     
       51. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 49  wherein the memory is an alterable memory separate from the main memory and separate from the disk memory. 
     
     
       52. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 49  wherein the processor is operable to cause information related to the authentication to be transferred to a remote storage device. 
     
     
       53. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 49  wherein the system logic is a function of an operating system. 
     
     
       54. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 49  further comprising a first memory storing a secure loader for loading the system logic. 
     
     
       55. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 49  wherein said disk memory comprises an optical disk. 
     
     
       56. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 49  further comprising at least one peripheral device coupled to the gaming console including a memory device wherein the processor is operable to authenticate contents of the memory device. 
     
     
       57. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 49  wherein said disk memory comprises a magnetic hard disk. 
     
     
       58. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 49  wherein said disk memory is operable as a read- only memory.   
     
     
       59. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 49  wherein the disk memory is disposed in said casino game console. 
     
     
       60. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 49  wherein the disk memory is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console. 
     
     
       61. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 49  wherein the video display unit is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console. 
     
     
       62. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 49  further comprising a video subsystem, operatively coupled to the video display unit and operatively coupled to the processor, adapted for displaying still images, motion video or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       63. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 49  wherein the processor is operable to generate a plurality of different casino games and wherein the plurality of different games are stored on the disk memory. 
     
     
       64. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 49  wherein in response to receiving a selection of a first casino game from a plurality of different casino games, the casino gaming apparatus is operable to generate a play of the first casino game on the casino gaming apparatus. 
     
     
       65. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 49  further comprising a sound- generating apparatus operatively coupled to the processor.   
     
     
       66. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 49  further comprising a nonvolatile memory operable to store gaming data at least related to the play of the casino game. 
     
     
       67. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 66  wherein the nonvolatile memory is disposed in said casino game console. 
     
     
       68. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 66  wherein the nonvolatile memory is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console. 
     
     
       69. A casino gaming apparatus comprising:
   a casino game console;        a video display unit;        a main memory providing an executable space for a processor being disposed in said casino game console;        a disk memory having gaming data relating to a casino game stored therein;        a memory storing an operating system adapted to control the disk memory wherein the operating system is authenticated prior to an authentication of the gaming data; and        at least one peripheral device coupled to the casino game console wherein the peripheral device includes a memory device for storing a fixed data set, a program or combinations thereof and wherein prior to allowing the program or the fixed data set to participate in system operations on the casino gaming apparatus, the casino gaming apparatus is operable to authenticate the fixed data set, the program or the combinations stored on the peripheral device;        the processor disposed in said casino game console and being operatively coupled to said video display unit, said main memory, said memory, the peripheral device and said disk memory,        said processor operable to cause said gaming data, the fixed data or the program to be checked based on a comparison of information generated from said gaming data, the fixed data or the program with previously generated data, and        said processor causing a remedial action to be taken based on an outcome of said checking of said gaming data, the fixed data or the program.     
     
     
       70. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 69  wherein the at least one peripheral device is selected from the group consisting of a NV- RAM device, a sound system device, a video subsystem device, a money handling device, a general purpose input/output  ( GPIO )  interface, a network interface device, a video display, a disk controller, display lights and a manually actuable switch.   
     
     
       71. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 69  further comprising a network interface coupled to the casino game console for connecting to a network. 
     
     
       72. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 71  wherein the network includes wireless links or wired links. 
     
     
       73. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 71  wherein the casino gaming apparatus is operable to send gaming information via the network interface to a remote device controlled by a regulatory body. 
     
     
       74. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 69  wherein the casino gaming apparatus is operable to transfer the gaming data relating to the casino game from a remote storage unit connected to the gaming apparatus via a network to a memory location disposed on the gaming console. 
     
     
       75. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 69  wherein said processor utilizes decryption in checking said gaming data. 
     
     
       76. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 69  wherein said disk memory comprises an optical disk. 
     
     
       77. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 69  wherein said disk memory comprises a magnetic hard disk. 
     
     
       78. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 69  wherein said disk memory is operable as a read- only memory.   
     
     
       79. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 69  wherein the disk memory is disposed in said casino game console. 
     
     
       80. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 69  wherein the disk memory is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console. 
     
     
       81. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 69  wherein the video display unit is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console. 
     
     
       82. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 69  further comprising a video subsystem, operatively coupled to the video display unit and operatively coupled to the processor, said video subsystem adapted for displaying still images, motion video or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       83. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 69  wherein the processor is operable to generate a plurality of different casino games and wherein the plurality of different games are stored on the disk memory. 
     
     
       84. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 69  wherein in response to receiving a selection of a first casino game from a plurality of different casino games, the casino gaming apparatus is operable to generate a play of the first casino game on the casino gaming apparatus. 
     
     
       85. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 69  further comprising a sound- generating apparatus operatively coupled to the processor.   
     
     
       86. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 69  further comprising a nonvolatile memory operable to store gaming data at least related to the play of the casino game. 
     
     
       87. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 86  wherein the nonvolatile memory is disposed in said casino game console. 
     
     
       88. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in  claim 86  wherein the nonvolatile memory is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console.