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.

Description

[0001]This application is the national stage of International Application No. PCT / US96 / 10463, filed on Jun. 17, 1996, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08 / 497,662, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,643,086, filed on Jun. 29, 1995.[0002]Notice: More than one reissue application has been filed for the reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,396. The reissue applications are Reissue application No. 10 / 225,096 filed Aug. 21, 200 (the present application), Reissue application No. 10 / 224,680 filed Aug. 21, 2002, Reissue application No. 10 / 225,116 filed Aug. 21, 2002, Reissue application No. 10 / 225,097 filed Aug. 21, 2002 and Reissue application No. 10 / 224,699 filed Aug. 21, 2002, all of which are divisional reissues of U.S. Pat. No. 6,106,396, which issued from U.S. Ser. No. 08 / 981,882 which is the U.S. national phase of International Application No. PCT / US96 / 10463 filed Jun. 17, 1996, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Ser. No. 08 / 497,662 filed Jun. 29, 1995, now U.S. Pat. No. 5...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is an electronic casino gaming system that expands the capabilities of casino games and enhances security and authentication capabilities. The system has a greatly expanded mass storage capacity for storing a multitude of high resolution, high sound quality casino games. The system uses an authentication program stored in an unalterable read-only memory (ROM) within the game console to verify the authenticity of the game data sets. The authentication program runs upon system initialization and compares the computed message digest of the game data set with the stored ROM to verify the authenticity of the game. The system also includes means for storing the game data sets and the authentication program in a secure location to prevent unauthorized access. The invention ensures that the game data sets and the authentication program are secure and can be trusted for game play.

Problems solved by technology

While such electronic casino gaming systems have been found to be useful in promoting casino game play, the restriction requiring that the casino game program be stored in unalterable ROM memory, leads to a number of disadvantageous limitations.

First, due to the limited capacity of the ROM storage media traditionally used to hold the program, the scope of game play available with such systems is severely limited.

However, physical verification of such a large quantity of physical devices is not practical, and has thus far been an impediment to creating sophisticated games with more player appeal.

Second, the authentication check is only conducted on a limited basis (usually after a jackpot) or other significant winning game outcome, and the authentication procedure requires that game play be halted until the ROM contents have been found to be authentic.

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