Authentication of data for a gaming machine
Data generated by certain peripheral devices, such as a coin or bill validator, within a gaming device is encrypted using a randomly generated key transmitted to the peripheral device by a main control unit in the gaming device. The peripheral device sends the encrypted data to the main control unit along with the clear text data. The control unit performs a reverse algorithm to recover the data from the encrypted number. The control unit compares the recovered data to the clear text data. If there is a match, the control unit acts on the data, such as by booking the coin value to a credit meter.
1. A gaming method performed in a gaming device, the gaming device comprising a first processor and at least one second processor, the gaming method comprising:
receiving by the second processor a first number, the first number being changed based on certain events;
generating first data by the second processor for being transmitted to the first processor;
calculating an authentication number by the second processor by performing an algorithm using at least the first number and the first data to generate the authentication number;
transmitting by the second processor to the first processor the authentication number and the first data;
deriving by the first processor, using at least the first number, derived data from the authentication number;
comparing the derived data, derived from the authentication number, with the first data transmitted by the second processor to the first processor; and
if there is a match, using the first data itself by the first processor to carry out a gaming function unrelated to verifying data, and, if there is not a match, not using the first data by the first processor to carry out a gaming function.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the gaming device is a gaming machine.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the gaming device is a gaming system.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first number is changed based on a period of time.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first number is changed after each credit transaction.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first data represents credits or a monetary value.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the second processor calculating the authentication number based on a non-random second number as well as the first number and the first data.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the first processor transmitting a command to the second processor along with the first number, the command requesting the second processor to transmit the first data.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the first processor is a main control unit in a gaming machine, and the second processor is a peripheral device.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first processor is a peripheral device, and the second processor is a main control unit in a gaming machine.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the second processor communicates with a monetary detector device.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the monetary detector device is a coin validator.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein the monetary detector device is a bill validator.
14. The method of claim 1 further comprising pseudo-randomly generating the first number by the first processor.
15. The method of claim 1 further comprising pseudo-randomly generating the first number by the first processor after a period of time.
16. The method of claim 1 further comprising pseudo-randomly generating the first number by the first processor after each monetary transaction.
17. The method of claim 1 further comprising the second processor calculating the authentication number based on a constant as well as the first number and the first data.
18. The method of claim 1 wherein using the first data by the first processor to carry out a gaming function comprises using the first data to book credits to a credit meter.
19. A gaming device comprising:
a first processor;
at least one second processor generating first data for the first processor, the first processor and the second processor being programmed to carry out the following method comprising:
receiving by the second processor a first number from the first processor, the first number being changed based on certain events;
generating the first data by the second processor for being transmitted to the first processor;
calculating an authentication number by the second processor by performing an algorithm using at least the first number and the first data to generate the authentication number;
transmitting by the second processor to the first processor the authentication number and the first data;
deriving by the first processor derived data from the authentication number;
comparing the derived data, derived from the authentication number, with the first data transmitted by the second processor to the first processor; and
if there is a match, using the first data itself by the first processor to carry out a gaming function unrelated to verifying data, and, if there is not a match, not using the first data by the first processor to carry out a gaming function.
20. The device of claim 19 wherein the gaming device is a gaming machine.
21. The device of claim 19 wherein the gaming device is a gaming system.
22. The device of claim 19 wherein the first processor is a main control unit in a gaming machine, and the second processor is a peripheral device.
23. The device of claim 19 wherein the first processor is a peripheral device, and the second processor is a main control unit in a gaming machine.
24. The device of claim 19 further comprising a monetary detector device communicating with the second processor.
25. The device of claim 19 wherein the first processor pseudo-randomly generates the first number.
26. The device of claim 19 wherein the first processor pseudo-randomly generates the first number after a period of time.
27. The device of claim 19 wherein the first processor pseudo-randomly generates the first number after each monetary transaction.
28. The device of claim 19 wherein the second processor calculates the authentication number based on a constant as well as the first number and the first data.
29. The device of claim 19 wherein the first data represents credits or a monetary value.