US6149522A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of authenticating game data sets in an electronic casino gaming system
Assignee: International Game Technology
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Filing: 1998-06-29
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Granted: 2000-11-21
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Expires: 2018-06-29
Abstract
Abstract Authentication of a casino game data set is carried out within the casino game console using an authentication program stored in an unalterable ROM physically located within the casino game console. The casino game data set and a unique signature are stored in a mass storage device, which may comprise a read only unit or a read/write unit and which may be physically located either within the casino game console or remotely located and linked to the casino game console over a suitable network. The authentication program stored in the unalterable ROM performs an authentication check on the casino game data set at appropriate times, such as prior to commencement of game play, at periodic intervals or upon demand. At appropriate occasions, the contents of the unalterable ROM can be verified by computing the message digest of the unalterable ROM contents and comparing this computed message digest with a securely stored copy of the message digest computed from the ROM contents prior to installation in the casino game console.
Inventors
- 👤 Allan E. Alcorn
- 👤 Michael Barnett
- 👤 Louis D Giacalone, Jr.
- 👤 Adam E. Levinthal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:05
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/50; G06F21/51; G06F21/57; G06F21/575; G06F21/60; G06F21/64; G06Q; G06Q50/00; G06Q50/34; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/32; G07F17/3286; G07F17/3288; H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/08; H04L9/0894; H04L9/32; H04L9/3236; H04L9/3239; H04L9/3247; G06F2211/00; G06F2211/007; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2109; H04L2209/00; H04L2209/56; H04L2209/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 53
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of authenticating a game data set for use in a casino-type gaming system, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving the game data set; (b) computing a primary abbreviated bit string unique to the game data set; (c) encrypting the abbreviated bit string to provide a signature; (d) storing the data set and the signature; (e) computing a complementary abbreviated bit string from the stored data set; (f) decrypting the stored signature to recover the primary abbreviated bit string; (g) comparing the primary and complementary abbreviated bit strings to determine whether the primary and complementary abbreviated bit strings match; (h) if the primary and complementary abbreviated bit strings match, indicating that the game data set is authentic; and (i) if the primary and complementary abbreviated bit strings do not match, indicating that the game data set is not authentic.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of authenticating a game data set for use in a casino-type gaming system, said method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving the game data set; (b) computing a primary abbreviated bit string unique to the game data set; (c) encrypting the abbreviated bit string to provide a signature; (d) storing the data set and the signature; (e) computing a complementary abbreviated bit string from the stored data set; (f) decrypting the stored signature to recover the primary abbreviated bit string; (g) comparing the primary and complementary abbreviated bit strings to determine whether the primary and complementary abbreviated bit strings match; (h) if the primary and complementary abbreviated bit strings match, indicating that the game data set is authentic; and (i) if the primary and complementary abbreviated bit strings do not match, indicating that the game data set is not authentic.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method of authenticating a game data set as recited in claim 1 wherein said step (b) of computing is performed with a hash function to produce a hash value of the game data set, and wherein said primary abbreviated bit string comprises the hash value of the game data set.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of authenticating a game data set as recited in claim 2 wherein the hash value comprises the message digest of the game data set.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of authenticating a game data set as recited in claim 1 wherein said step (c) of encrypting is performed using a private encryption key.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of authenticating a game data set as recited in claim 1 wherein said step (f) of decrypting is performed using a public decryption key.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of authenticating a game data set as recited in claim 1 wherein said step (c) of encrypting is performed using a private encryption key, and said step (f) of decrypting is performed using a public decryption key.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method of authenticating a game data set as recited in claim 1 wherein said step (e) of computing is performed with a hash function to produce a hash value of the stored game data set, and wherein said complementary abbreviated bit string comprises the hash value of the stored game data set.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of authenticating a game data set as recited in claim 7 wherein the hash value comprises the message digest of the stored game data set.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of authenticating a game data set as recited in claim 1 wherein said step (d) of storing includes the step of storing the game data set and the signature in a mass storage device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of authenticating a game data set as recited in claim 9 wherein the mass storage device comprises a disk drive unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of authenticating a game data set as recited in claim 9 wherein the mass storage device comprises a CD-ROM unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of authenticating a game data set as recited in claim 9 wherein the mass storage device comprises a network storage system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of authenticating a game data set as recited in claim 1 wherein said steps (a)-(d) are performed at a first site, and wherein steps (e)-(g) are performed at a second site.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method of authenticating a game data set as recited in claim 13 wherein the first site comprises a manufacturing facility, and wherein said second site is a gaming facility.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of authenticating a game data set as recited in claim 1 wherein said game data set is a game-modifying data set for modifying game parameters of a casino type game.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method of authenticating a game data set as recited in claim 15 wherein said game-modifying data set includes a money handler modifying data set for modifying parameters related to payout of coins and issuing of credit in the casino-type game.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of authenticating a game data set as recited in claim 15 wherein said game-modifying data set includes a sound driver modifying data set for modifying parameters related to sound drivers of said casino-type game.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of authenticating a game data set as recited in claim 15 wherein said game-modifying data set includes a graphics modifying data set for modifying parameters related to graphically displayed images of the casino-type game.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of preparing a casino game data set capable of authentication, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a data set for a casino game; (b) computing a primary abbreviated bit string unique to the casino game data set; (c) encrypting the abbreviated bit string to provide a signature; and (d) storing the casino game data set and the signature.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
62 words
A method of preparing a casino game data set capable of authentication, said method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a data set for a casino game; (b) computing a primary abbreviated bit string unique to the casino game data set; (c) encrypting the abbreviated bit string to provide a signature; and (d) storing the casino game data set and the signature.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method of preparing a casino game data set as recited in claim 19 wherein said step (b) of computing is performed with a hash function to produce a hash value of the stored casino game data set, and wherein said primary abbreviated bit string comprises the hash value of the stored casino game data set.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of preparing a casino game data set as recited in claim 20 wherein the hash value comprises the message digest of the casino game data set.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of preparing a casino game data set as recited in claim 19 wherein said step (c) of encrypting is performed using a private encryption key.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of preparing a casino game data set as recited in claim 19 wherein said step (d) of storing the casino game data set and the signature includes storing the casino game data set and the signature in a mass storage device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of preparing a casino game data set as recited in claim 23 wherein the mass storage device comprises a disk drive unit.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method of preparing a casino game data set as recited in claim 23 wherein the mass storage device comprises a CD-ROM unit.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of preparing a casino game data set as recited in claim 23 wherein the mass storage device comprises a network storage system.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of authenticating a casino game data set of a casino type game having a signature encrypted from a primary abbreviated bit string computed from the casino game data set, said method comprising the steps of: (a) computing a complementary abbreviated bit string from the casino game data set; (b) decrypting the signature to recover the primary abbreviated bit string; and (c) comparing the primary and complementary abbreviated bit strings to determine whether the primary and complementary abbreviated bit strings match.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of authenticating a casino game data set of a casino type game having a signature encrypted from a primary abbreviated bit string computed from the casino game data set, said method comprising the steps of: (a) computing a complementary abbreviated bit string from the casino game data set; (b) decrypting the signature to recover the primary abbreviated bit string; and (c) comparing the primary and complementary abbreviated bit strings to determine whether the primary and complementary abbreviated bit strings match.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method of authenticating a casino game data set as recited in claim 27 wherein said step (a) of computing is performed with a hash function to produce a hash value of the casino game data set, and wherein said complementary abbreviated bit string comprises the hash value of the casino game data set.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method of authenticating a casino game data set as recited in claim 28 wherein the hash value comprises the message digest of the casino game data set.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of authenticating a casino game data set as recited in claim 27 wherein said step (b) of decrypting is performed using a public decryption key.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
247 words
In an electronic gaming system including a main memory, a first storage means having a first authentication program stored therein, a second storage means having stored therein an anchor application including a second authentication program, and an anchor signature including an encrypted version of a unique primary abbreviated anchor bit string computed from said anchor application, and a third storage means having stored therein a game data set and a game signature including an encrypted version of a unique primary abbreviated game bit string computed from said game data set, a method of authenticating game data sets for implementing casino-type games, said method comprising the steps of: (a) loading said first authentication program stored in said first storage means to said main memory; (b) accessing said anchor application stored in said second storage means; (d) determining the validity of said anchor application using said first authentication program; (e) if said anchor application is invalid, prohibiting the loading of said anchor application into said main memory; (f) if said anchor application is valid, loading said anchor application into said main memory, accessing said game data set stored in said third storage means, determining the validity of said game data set using said second authentication program, if said game data set is invalid, prohibiting the loading of said game data set into said main memory, if said game data set is valid, loading said game data set into said main memory and processing instructions of said game data set.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
247 words
In an electronic gaming system including a main memory, a first storage means having a first authentication program stored therein, a second storage means having stored therein an anchor application including a second authentication program, and an anchor signature including an encrypted version of a unique primary abbreviated anchor bit string computed from said anchor application, and a third storage means having stored therein a game data set and a game signature including an encrypted version of a unique primary abbreviated game bit string computed from said game data set, a method of authenticating game data sets for implementing casino-type games, said method comprising the steps of: (a) loading said first authentication program stored in said first storage means to said main memory; (b) accessing said anchor application stored in said second storage means; (d) determining the validity of said anchor application using said first authentication program; (e) if said anchor application is invalid, prohibiting the loading of said anchor application into said main memory; (f) if said anchor application is valid, loading said anchor application into said main memory, accessing said game data set stored in said third storage means, determining the validity of said game data set using said second authentication program, if said game data set is invalid, prohibiting the loading of said game data set into said main memory, if said game data set is valid, loading said game data set into said main memory and processing instructions of said game data set.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
74 words
In an electronic gaming system as recited in claim 31 wherein said step of determining the validity of said anchor application using said first authentication program includes the steps of: computing a complementary abbreviated anchor bit string from said anchor application; decrypting said anchor signature to recover said primary abbreviated anchor bit string; comparing said primary and complementary abbreviated anchor bit strings to determine whether said primary and complementary abbreviated anchor bit strings match.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
76 words
In an electronic gaming system as recited in claim 31 wherein said step of determining the validity of said game data set using said second authentication program includes the steps of: computing a complementary abbreviated game bit string from said game data set; decrypting said game signature to recover said primary abbreviated game bit string; comparing said primary and complementary abbreviated game bit strings to determine whether said primary and complementary abbreviated game bit strings match.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
98 words
In an electronic gaming system as recited in claim 31 wherein said primary abbreviated anchor bit string is computed from said anchor application using a first hash function, and wherein said step of determining the validity of said anchor application using said first authentication program includes the steps of: computing a complementary abbreviated anchor bit string from said anchor application using said first hash function; decrypting said anchor signature to recover said primary abbreviated anchor bit string; comparing said primary and complementary abbreviated anchor bit strings to determine whether said primary and complementary abbreviated anchor bit strings match.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
102 words
In an electronic gaming system as recited in claim 34 wherein said primary abbreviated game bit string is computed from said game data set using a second hash function, and wherein said step of determining the validity of said game data set using said second authentication program includes the steps of: computing a complementary abbreviated game bit string from said game data set using said second hash function; decrypting said game signature to recover said primary abbreviated game bit string; and comparing said primary and complementary abbreviated game bit strings to determine whether said primary and complementary abbreviated game bit strings match.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
In an electronic gaming system as recited in claim 31 wherein said first storage means is an unalterable read only memory device.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
20 words
In an electronic gaming system as recited in claim 31 wherein said second storage means is a mass storage device.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
28 words
In an electronic gaming system as recited in claim 31 wherein said third storage means comprises a network storage system which is remote from the electronic gaming system.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
112 words
In an electronic gaming system as recited in claim 31 wherein said electronic gaming system further includes a fourth storage means having stored therein a basic input/output operating system (BIOS) and wherein said first storage means further includes bootstrap code, an operating system, and operating system drivers stored therein, said method further comprising the steps of: first loading said BIOS from said fourth storage means to said main memory; and second loading said bootstrap code, said operating system, and said operating system drivers from said first storage means to said main memory, wherein said steps of first and second loading are performed before performing said step of loading said first authentication program.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
40 words
In an electronic gaming system as recited in claim 31 wherein said first storage means is an unalterable read only memory, said second storage means is a mass storage means, and said third storage means is a mass storage means.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
37 words
In an electronic gaming system as recited in claim 31 wherein said step of determining the validity of said game data set using said second authentication program is repeatably initiated in response to initiation of game play.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
39 words
In an electronic gaming system as recited in claim 31 wherein said step of determining the validity of said game data set using said second authentication program is repeatably initiated in response to the detection of a coin insert.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
41 words
In an electronic gaming system as recited in claim 31 wherein said step of determining the validity of said game data set using said second authentication program is repeatably initiated in response to the payout of coins or issuing of credit.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
43 words
In an electronic gaming system as recited in claim 31 wherein said step of determining the validity of said game data set using said second authentication program is repeatably initiated by a demand procedure activated remotely from the gaming system via a network.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
40 words
In an electronic gaming system as recited in claim 31 wherein said step of determining the validity of said game data set using said second authentication program is repeatably initiated by a demand procedure activated locally at the gaming system.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
121 words
In an electronic gaming system as recited in claim 31 wherein said gaming system further includes a fourth storage means having stored therein a game modifying data set and a game modifying signature including an encrypted version of a unique primary abbreviated bit string computed from said game modifying data set, said method further comprising the steps of: accessing said game modifying data set in said fourth storage means; determining the validity of said game modifying data set using said second authentication program; if said game modifying data set is invalid, prohibiting loading of said game modifying data set into said main memory; and if said second game data set is valid, loading said game modifying data set into main memory.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
44 words
In an electronic gaming system as recited in claim 31 wherein said game data set is a game-modifying data set which includes a money handler modifying data set for modifying parameters related to payout of coins and issuing of credit in the casino-type game.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
39 words
In an electronic gaming system as recited in claim 31 wherein said game data set is a game-modifying data set which includes a sound driver modifying data set for modifying parameters related to sound drivers of said casino-type game.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
39 words
In an electronic gaming system as recited in claim 31 wherein said game data set is a game-modifying data set which includes a graphics modifying data set for modifying parameters related to graphically displayed images of the casino-type game.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-21 | 2004-05-22 | 2004-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-21 | 2008-05-22 | 2008-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-21 | 2012-05-22 | 2012-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |