Background memory validation for gaming devices
AssigneeBally Gaming, Inc.
InventorsRonald A. Cadima, Anand Singh, James Schaefer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Various embodiments are directed to a gaming device including a background memory validation system. The background memory validation system includes a background kernel thread that validates read-only pages on the gaming device. Additionally, the background kernel thread also minimizes potential timing problems because this process only validates page content in memory that is fully-loaded and functional.
Claims17
A method for verifying contents of one or more pages stored within a memory of a gaming device, the method comprising:
- installing a memory validation module on a basic input-output system in the gaming device;
- receiving a command from the memory validation module to start a background validation kernel thread, wherein starting the background validation kernel thread further comprises determining a duration of a memory check cycle, wherein the duration is based on a maximum number of read-only pages to be processed during the memory check cycle or a maximum number of timer ticks before a sleep timer is initiated, thereby allowing other processes to run;
- validating the contents of one or more read-only pages stored within a memory of the gaming device with the background validation kernel thread, wherein validating the contents of the read-only pages is a background process;
- and
- presenting a system fault on a display of the gaming device when a read-only page is not validated.
A method for verifying contents of one or more pages stored within a memory of a gaming device, the method comprising:
- initiating a memory validation for one or more pages stored within the memory of the gaming device, wherein the memory validation is a background process that uses a background validation kernel thread, wherein the background validation kernel thread determines a duration of a memory check cycle, wherein the duration is based on a maximum number of read-only pages to be processed during the memory check cycle or a maximum number of timer ticks before a sleep timer is initiated, thereby allowing other processes to run;
- configuring a processing loop for the memory validation;
- determining whether a page is a read-only page;
- validating the read-only page;
- and
- presenting a system fault on a display of the gaming device when a read-only page is not validated.
A method for verifying contents of one or more pages stored within a memory of a gaming device, the method comprising:
- initiating a memory validation for one or more pages stored within the memory of the gaming device, wherein the memory validation is a background process that uses a background validation kernel thread, wherein the background validation kernel thread determines a duration of a memory check cycle, wherein the duration is based on a maximum number of read-only pages to be processed during the memory check cycle or a maximum number of timer ticks before a sleep timer is initiated, thereby allowing other processes to run;
- determining whether a page is active by analyzing page table entry and the virtual memory address of the page;
- determining whether the active page is a read-only page;
- validating the active, read-only page;
- and
- presenting a system fault on a display of the gaming device when an active, read-only page is not validated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.