US6804763B1 — High performance battery backed ram interface

Claim 1

Independent Claim 157 words

A gaming machine comprising: a master gaming controller for controlling one or more games played on the gaming machine, each game comprising: receiving a wager on an outcome of the game; determining an outcome for the game; presenting the outcome for the game; one or more input mechanisms for receiving cash or an indicia of credit for the wager; one or more output mechanisms for outputting cash or an indicia of credit; a non-volatile memory storage device that communicates with the master gaming controller wherein the non-volatile memory storage device stores critical data received from the master gaming controller; and a non-volatile memory allocation system executed by the master gaming controller wherein the non-volatile memory allocation system dynamically allocates and de-allocates non-volatile memory locations in non-volatile memory located in the non-volatile memory storage device and wherein the non-volatile allocation system is operable for allowing the non-volatile memory locations where critical data is stored to vary over time.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 157 words

A gaming machine comprising: a master gaming controller for controlling one or more games played on the gaming machine, each game comprising: receiving a wager on an outcome of the game; determining an outcome for the game; presenting the outcome for the game; one or more input mechanisms for receiving cash or an indicia of credit for the wager; one or more output mechanisms for outputting cash or an indicia of credit; a non-volatile memory storage device that communicates with the master gaming controller wherein the non-volatile memory storage device stores critical data received from the master gaming controller; and a non-volatile memory allocation system executed by the master gaming controller wherein the non-volatile memory allocation system dynamically allocates and de-allocates non-volatile memory locations in non-volatile memory located in the non-volatile memory storage device and wherein the non-volatile allocation system is operable for allowing the non-volatile memory locations where critical data is stored to vary over time.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 31 words

The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein said one or more devices are selected from the group consisting of a gaming system extension, an audio controller and a network controller.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 23 words

The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the non-volatile memory is selected from the group consisting of battery-backed SRAM and flash memory.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 36 words

The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the game played on the gaming machine is selected from the group consisting of video poker, video black jack, video pachinko, video slots, video pachinko and mechanical slots.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 21 words

The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the non-volatile memory stores between about 1 Megabytes and 32 Megabytes of data.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

The gaming machine of claim 1 , further comprising: a main communication interface allowing communication with one or more devices located outside of the gaming machine.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 26 words

The gaming machine of claim 6 , wherein said one or more devices located outside the gaming machine retrieve data stored in the non-volatile memory locations.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 33 words

The gaming machine of claim 6 , wherein the gaming machine is connected to at least one of a casino area network and a wide area progressive network through the main communication interface.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 26 words

The gaming machine of claim 1 , further comprising: a battery having sufficient energy to power the non-volatile memory storage device for at least 4 years.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 36 words

The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the critical data is selected from the group consisting of game history information, security information, accounting information, player tracking information, wide area progressive information and game state information.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 38 words

The gaming machine of claim 1 , further comprising: a non-volatile memory file system wherein memory locations in the non-volatile memory correspond to one or more files and one or more directories in the non-volatile memory file system.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 16 words

The gaming machine of claim 11 , wherein the one or more files contain critical data.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 36 words

The gaming machine of claim 11 , wherein contents of the one or more files in the non-volatile memory file system are accessed using a least one of a word processor and a graphics utility program.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 34 words

The gaming machine of claim 11 , further comprising: a main display connected to the gaming machine wherein the files and directories in the non-volatile memory file system are displayed on the main display.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 29 words

The gaming machine of claim 11 , wherein information stored in the non-volatile memory locations is preserved by the power from a battery when the gaming machine loses power.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 23 words

The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the non-volatile memory allocation system allocates one or memory locations as a block of memory.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

The gaming machine of claim 16 , wherein a number of memory locations allocated to the block of memory are changed.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 19 words

The gaming machine of claim 1 , wherein the non-volatile memory storage device monitors a power supply voltage level.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 33 words

The gaming machine of claim 18 , wherein the non-volatile memory storage device limits access to the non-volatile memory when the power supply voltage level drops below a power supply cut-off voltage level.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 196 words

A non-volatile memory storage device for storing critical data in a non-volatile memory on a gaming machine with a master gaming controller, the non-volatile memory storage device comprising: an interface device that receives data signals from the master gaming controller in a first format and converts the data signals to one or more second formats different from said first format wherein the master gaming controller controls a game of chance played on the gaming machine and controls memory locations in the non-volatile memory storage device where critical data is stored; a NV-RAM controller that receives data signals in said second format from the interface device and controls access to the non-volatile memory; one more non-volatile memory chips comprising the non-volatile memory that receive data signals from the interface device in said second format and store the critical data contained in the data signals in one or more memory locations on said non-volatile memory chips; and a battery that provides power to the NV-RAM controller wherein the non-volatile memory storage device is operable to store critical data received from the master gaming controller and to vary over time the non-volatile memory locations where critical data is stored.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 196 words

A non-volatile memory storage device for storing critical data in a non-volatile memory on a gaming machine with a master gaming controller, the non-volatile memory storage device comprising: an interface device that receives data signals from the master gaming controller in a first format and converts the data signals to one or more second formats different from said first format wherein the master gaming controller controls a game of chance played on the gaming machine and controls memory locations in the non-volatile memory storage device where critical data is stored; a NV-RAM controller that receives data signals in said second format from the interface device and controls access to the non-volatile memory; one more non-volatile memory chips comprising the non-volatile memory that receive data signals from the interface device in said second format and store the critical data contained in the data signals in one or more memory locations on said non-volatile memory chips; and a battery that provides power to the NV-RAM controller wherein the non-volatile memory storage device is operable to store critical data received from the master gaming controller and to vary over time the non-volatile memory locations where critical data is stored.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 16 words

The non-volatile memory storage device of claim 20 , wherein the battery is a lithium battery.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 18 words

The non-volatile memory storage device of claim 20 , wherein the interface device is a PCI interface device.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 26 words

The non-volatile memory storage device of claim 20 , wherein the non-volatile memory chips are selected from the group consisting of battery-backed RAM and flash memory.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 21 words

The non-volatile memory storage device of claim 20 , wherein the non-volatile memory is comprised of about 8 non-volatile memory chips.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 22 words

The non-volatile memory storage device of claim 20 , wherein the non-volatile memory is comprised of between 1 and 16 memory chips.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 24 words

The non-volatile memory storage device of claim 20 , wherein the non-volatile memory stores between about 1 Megabytes and 32 Megabytes of critical data.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 18 words

The non-volatile memory storage device of claim 20 , wherein the NV-RAM controller monitors a battery voltage level.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 33 words

The non-volatile memory storage device of claim 27 , wherein the NV-RAM controller limits access to the non-volatile memory when the power supply voltage level drops below a power supply cut-off voltage level.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 23 words

The non-volatile memory storage device of claim 28 , wherein the power cut-off voltage level is between about 4.25 Volts and 4.5 Volts.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 29 words

The non-volatile memory storage device of claim 27 , wherein the NV-RAM controller selects a power supply source for the non-volatile memory according to the power supply voltage level.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 36 words

The non-volatile memory storage device of claim 30 , wherein the NV-RAM controller selects a battery power supply source for the non-volatile memory when the power supply voltage level drops below a power supply cut-off voltage.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 26 words

The non-volatile memory storage device of claim 20 , wherein the NV-RAM controller directs data contained in the data signals to one of the memory chips.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 37 words

The non-volatile memory storage device of claim 20 , wherein said first format for the data signals and said second format for the data signals includes a clock rate, a voltage level and a data bit width.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 31 words

The non-volatile memory storage device of claim 33 , wherein the clock rate for the first format and the clock rate for the second format is at least about 10 MHz.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 34 words

The non-volatile memory storage device of claim 33 , wherein the data bit width for the first format and the data bit width for the second format is between about 8 and 64 bits.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 38 words

The non-volatile memory storage device of claim 20 , wherein the critical data is selected from the group consisting of game history information, security information, accounting information, player tracking information, wide area progressive information and game state information.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 24 words

The non-volatile memory storage device of claim 20 , wherein the master gaming controller executes a non-volatile memory allocation system on the non-volatile memory.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 25 words

The non-volatile memory storage device of claim 37 , wherein the non-volatile memory allocation system dynamically allocates and de-allocates memory locations in the non-volatile memory.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 158 words

A gaming machine comprising: a master gaming controller for controlling one or more games played on the gaming machine each game comprising: receiving a wager on an outcome of the game; determining an outcome for the game; presenting the outcome for the game; one or more input mechanisms for receiving cash or an indicia of credit for the wager; one or more output mechanisms for outputting cash or an indicia of credit; a non-volatile memory storage device storing critical data during the play of the one or more games on the gaming machine; gaming software comprising one or more clients executed by the master gaming controller; and a non-volatile memory allocation system for allocating and for modifying non-volatile memory locations in the non-volatile memory storage device based upon function requests from the one or more clients wherein the non-volatile allocation system is operable for allowing the non-volatile memory locations where critical data is stored to vary over time.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 158 words

A gaming machine comprising: a master gaming controller for controlling one or more games played on the gaming machine each game comprising: receiving a wager on an outcome of the game; determining an outcome for the game; presenting the outcome for the game; one or more input mechanisms for receiving cash or an indicia of credit for the wager; one or more output mechanisms for outputting cash or an indicia of credit; a non-volatile memory storage device storing critical data during the play of the one or more games on the gaming machine; gaming software comprising one or more clients executed by the master gaming controller; and a non-volatile memory allocation system for allocating and for modifying non-volatile memory locations in the non-volatile memory storage device based upon function requests from the one or more clients wherein the non-volatile allocation system is operable for allowing the non-volatile memory locations where critical data is stored to vary over time.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 31 words

The gaming machine of claim 39 , wherein the clients are selected from the group consisting of a bank manager, a communication manager, a virtual player tracking unit, an event manager.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 36 words

The gaming machine of claim 39 , wherein the critical data is selected from the group consisting of game history information, security information, accounting information, player tracking information, wide area progressive information and game state information.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 14 words

The gaming machine of claim 39 , further comprising: a non-volatile memory file system.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 24 words

The gaming machine of claim 42 , wherein files in the non-volatile memory file system contain critical data stored in the non-volatile memory locations.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2007-10-12	2008-04-12	2008-10-12	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2011-10-12	2012-04-12	2012-10-12	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2015-10-12	2016-04-12	2016-10-12	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

High performance battery backed ram interface

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