# US 2013/0159988 A1 · Gaming machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0159988 A1 - Document ID: US20130159988A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/771,752 - Filed: 2013-02-20 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-26 - Assignees: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited - Inventors: Drazen Lenger - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130159988A1 ## CPC - G06F 9/4401: Bootstrapping (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57) - G06F 8/65: Updates (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57) - G06F 8/654: using techniques specially adapted for alterable solid state memories, e.g. for EEPROM or flash memories - G07F 17/32: for games, toys, sports, or amusements - G07F 17/323: {wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions} - G07F 17/3234: {about the performance of a gaming system, e.g. revenue, diagnosis of the gaming system} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) ## Abstract A method of conducting a software update of a gaming machine, including: starting a boot process of the gaming machine; determining during the boot process that a memory device potentially containing at least one software component more recent than a corresponding software component currently stored in gaming machine memory is in data communication with the gaming machine; determining that the memory device contains at least one authentic, more recent software component; and updating gaming machine memory with each more recent software component. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of conducting a software update of a gaming machine, comprising: starting a boot process of the gaming machine; determining during the boot process that a memory device potentially containing at least one software component more recent than a corresponding software component currently stored in gaming machine memory is in data communication with the gaming machine; determining that the memory device contains at least one authentic, more recent software component; and updating gaming machine memory with each more recent software component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein updating the gaming machine comprises replacing each corresponding software component with each more recent software component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein determining that the memory device contains at least one authentic software component which is more recent than a corresponding software component currently stored in a memory of the gaming machine comprises: authenticating each software component stored on the memory device; and determining that a version number of each authenticated software component stored on the memory device is indicative of a more recent version of the software component than a corresponding software component stored in the memory of the gaming machine. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A method as claimed in claim 3, comprising authenticating each software component stored on the memory device by using a public key stored at the gaming machine to verify that the software component has been signed with the corresponding public key. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method as claimed in claim 4, comprising determining that the version number is more recent if it is higher than a version of the corresponding software component. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising determining that a main door of the gaming machine is open prior to updating each more recent authentic software component. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising determining that a logic door of the gaming machine is open prior to updating each more recent authentic software component. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising restarting the boot process subsequent to completion of the update. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising continuing the boot process subsequent to completion of the update. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising determining that the memory device is connected to a USB port of the gaming machine. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the conduct of the boot process is caused by a processor of the gaming machine executing instruction stored in gaming machine memory. ### Claim 12 A gaming machine comprising: a processor; gaming machine memory storing updateable software components and storing instructions to cause the processor to conduct a boot process, the gaming machine arranged to: determine during the boot process that a memory device potentially containing at least one software component more recent than a corresponding software component currently stored in gaming machine memory is in data communication with the gaming machine; determine that the memory device contains at least one authentic, more recent software component; and conduct an update process of gaming machine memory in respect of each more recent software component. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A gaming machine as claimed in claim 12 comprising at least one USB port, the gaming machine arranged to determine that a memory device in the form of a USB compatible drive is connected to the USB port. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A gaming machine as claimed in claim 12, comprising a main door and arranged to determine that the main door is open prior to updating each more recent authentic software component. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) A gaming machine as claimed in claim 12 comprising a logic door and arranged to determine that the logic door is open prior to updating each more recent authentic software component. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A gaming machine as claimed in claim 13, arranged to only mount the USB drive for the duration of the boot process. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) A gaming machine as claimed in claim 12, arranged to update the gaming machine by replacing each corresponding software component with each more recent software component. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) A gaming machine as claimed in claim 12, arranged to determine that the memory device contains at least one authentic software component which is more recent than a corresponding software component currently stored in a memory of the gaming machine by: authenticating each software component stored on the memory device; and determining that a version number of each authenticated software component stored on the memory device is indicative of a more recent version of the software component than a corresponding software component stored in the memory of the gaming machine. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A gaming machine as claimed in claim 18, arranged to authenticate each software component stored on the memory device by using a public key stored at the gaming machine to verify that the software component has been signed with the corresponding public key. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) A gaming machine as claimed in claim 18, arranged to determine that the version number is more recent if it is higher than a version of the corresponding software component.