US 2010/0304872 A1 · Universal Game Download System For Legacy Gaming Machines With NVRAM Emulation

Abstract

A universal method and system for downloading game software to ROM based legacy gaming machines, activating selected games and providing new services. The method includes a ROM emulator for replacing the game program image and an NVRAM emulator for swapping the game context and critical meters accordingly. The method includes detection of the state of the current game activity such as to activate a new game only at an authorized time, when no player is playing a game or is carded-in for example. The system includes emulation of the original peripherals fitted to the legacy gaming machine such as to offer extended functionality and services. The universal method and system therefore prolongs the useful life of legacy machines which otherwise would be prematurely retired.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A gaming machine, comprising:

a locked cabinet;
a legacy controller in the locked cabinet, the legacy controller being configured to execute a game program and to control game play on the gaming machine;
a personal computer (PC) in the locked cabinet, the PC having a network interface;
a control interface coupled to the PC and the legacy controller to at least one of stop and restart the legacy controller;
a read-only memory emulator coupled to the PC and to the legacy controller, and
a non-volatile random access memory emulator coupled to the PC and the legacy controller.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

12/626,785Filed 27 Nov 2009

Priority

10 Mar 2003

Published

2 Dec 2010

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

A63F 13/71
Game security or game management aspects: using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or…
A63F 13/12
A63F 13/30
Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions: interconnection arrangements between game servers…
A63F 13/77
Game security or game management aspects: involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or…

Family

Application60/453,627Us provisional application · filed 10 Mar 2003

Application10/789,975Continuation in part · filed 27 Feb 2004

Application11/138,736Continuation in part · filed 25 May 2005

Application11/277,026Continuation · filed 20 Mar 2006

Application12/626,785Continuation

Application11/277,026Continuation in part

US 2004/0198496 A1Published application

US 2005/0223219 A1Published application

US 2006/0160626 A1Published application

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