US 6,149,522 A · Method of authenticating game data sets in an electronic casino gaming system

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.

Claims49

Dependent claims

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.

7 more elements

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.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method of authenticating game data sets in an electronic casino gaming system

Life of this patent

Method of authenticating game data sets in an electronic casino gaming system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims49