Universal peer-to-peer game download

A method for ensuring that only authorized software components execute on a non-PC based gaming machine connected to a network, the non-PC based gaming machine including a locked enclosure, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a PC within the locked enclosure of the non-PC gaming machine;
• connecting the PC to the network;
• providing an interface between the PC and the non-PC based gaming machine;
• packaging authorized software components that are executable to the non-PC gaming machine but not to the PC into a code signed MSI installation package;
• configuring certificate rule policies to enable execution of the code signed MSI installation package;
• enforcing the policies, and
• directly sending, from another gaming machine coupled to the network, the code signed MSI installation package to the PC within the secure locked enclosure of time non-PC gaming machine, and
• executing the code signed MSI installation package upon startup of the non-PC based gaming machines or upon a command.

A gaming machine, comprising:

• a locked enclosure;
• a first computing device disposed within the locked enclosure, the first computing device being configured to run a first operating system and being programmed to enable game play of the gaming machine when the first operating system is booted;
• a second computing device disposed within the locked enclosure of the gaming machine, the second computing device being configured to run a second operating system and, when the second operating system is booted, to receive game software components directly from an other gaming machine over a network, and
• a mass storage device within the locked enclosure, the mass storage being accessible by the first and the second computing devices;
• wherein the second computing device is configured to receive a package authenticated by a code signing directly from the other gaming machine over the network only when booted under the second operating system, the package including the software components to be installed on the mass storage device, and wherein the first computing device is configured to execute the unpacked software components only when booted under the first operating system.

A method for downloading software components over a network to a first gaming machine controlled by a first computing device, the first gaming machine being disposed within a locked enclosure, a second gaming machine being coupled to the network, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a second computing device within the locked enclosure of the first gaming machine;
• connecting the second computing device to the second gaming machine over the network;
• providing an interface between the second computing device and the first computing device;
• downloading a package authenticated by a code signing directly from the second gaming machine over the network, the package including software components to be installed and executed on the first computing device, the software components not being compatible with the second computing device;
• verifying the code signing and unpacking the software components included in the package, and
• enabling the first computing device to execute the unpacked software components.

A method for downloading software components to a PC based gaming machine over a network to which a plurality of other gaming machines are coupled, the PC based gaming machine including a persistent data storage, the method comprising the steps of:

• configuring the PC based gaming machine with a dual-boot capability including a first operating system and a second operating system, the persistent storage being accessible by the first operating system and by the second operating system;
• executing the game software when the first operating system is booted;
• connecting the PC to the network when the second operating system is booted;
• downloading a package authenticated by a code signing to the PC based gaming machine directly from one of the other gaming machines coupled to the network only when booted under the second operating system, the package including the software components to be installed on the persistent data storage;
• verifying the code signing and unpacking the software components included in the package when booted under the second operating system, and
• enabling time PC based gaming machine when booted under the first operating system to execute the unpacked software components.

A network of gaming machines, comprising:

• a network;
• a first gaming machine including a first locked enclosure, a first computing device disposed within the first locked enclosure for controlling game play on the first gaming machine, a first download-enabled computing device that is configured to selectively couple to the network and disposed within the first locked enclosure, and
• a second gaming machine;
• wherein the first download enabled computing device is configured to couple to the second gaming machine over the network aid to download a package authenticated by a code signing directly from the second gaming machine, the package including software components to be installed and executed on the first computing device.