VERIFYING AND AUDITING GAME CONTENT IN A GAMING SYSTEM
Systems and methods provide a way to verify that software downloaded to a gaming system is approved within a gaming jurisdiction. One aspect of the systems and methods includes a process for receiving approval for gaming software that is then made available for download onto gaming systems. A further aspect of the systems and methods includes the ability to audit and verify that software components that have been downloaded onto a gaming system are approved for use in a jurisdiction. The gaming configuration elements may include banner content, advertising content, denomination data, pay table, language data, video content, audio content, episodic game data, wagering game software, operating system software, device driver software and device firmware.
1 . A method for delivering software content to a gaming machine, the method comprising:
submitting through one or more networks a software component to a verification system, the verification system operable to verify the software component is approved for use in a jurisdiction;
receiving through the one or more networks an approval indication from the verification system that the software component is approved; and
downloading the software component to a gaming machine.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
notifying the gaming machine of an available software component; and
sending a request from the gaming machine to download the software component.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising downloading the software component to a host system and wherein downloading the software to the gaming machine includes downloading the software component from the host system.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
issuing a verification request to the verification system; and
receiving a verification response from the verification system.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the approval indication includes a certificate identifying the software component.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein downloading the software to the gaming machine includes utilizing a peer to peer download protocol.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein downloading the software to the gaming machine includes utilizing a trickle down protocol.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising sending an activation code to the gaming machine.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein downloading the software to the gaming machine includes utilizing a broadcast protocol.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein downloading the software to the gaming machine includes utilizing a multicast protocol.
11 . A method for auditing a gaming machine, the method comprising:
communicably coupling a verification system to a gaming machine, the verification system operable to verify the software component is approved for use in a jurisdiction;
requesting a list of software components present on the gaming machine;
selecting at least one software component from the list of components; and
verifying that the at least one software component is an approved software component.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein communicably coupling includes coupling through a network.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein communicably coupling includes coupling through a USB (Universal Serial Bus) port.
14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein communicably coupling includes coupling through a serial port.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein verifying the at least one software component includes querying an approved products database.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising communicably coupling the approved product database to the verification system.
17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein verifying includes requesting a signature associated with the software component and comparing the signature to data in the approved products database.
18 . The method of 11 , further comprising receiving a log file from the gaming machine.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the log file includes data regarding a download of the software product.
20 . A gaming system comprising:
a gaming machine having one or more gaming software components;
a verification system communicably coupled to the gaming system and operable to verify the one or more gaming software components are approved for use in a jurisdiction.
21 . The gaming system of claim 20 , wherein the gaming machine comprises a gaming device operable to execute the one or more gaming software components.
22 . The gaming system of claim 20 , wherein the gaming machine comprises a host system operable to store the one or more gaming software components.
23 . The gaming system of claim 20 , wherein the verification system is communicably coupled to the gaming machine through a network.
24 . The gaming system of claim 20 , wherein the verification system is communicably coupled to the gaming machine through a serial port.
25 . The gaming system of claim 20 , wherein the verification system is communicably coupled to the gaming machine through a USB port.
26 . The gaming system of claim 20 , wherein the verification system includes an approved product database.
27 . The gaming system of claim 26 , wherein the approved product database is communicably coupled to the verification system
28 . A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for delivering software content to a gaming machine, the method comprising:
submitting through one or more networks a software component to a verification system, the verification system operable to verify the software component is approved for use in a jurisdiction;
receiving through the one or more networks an approval indication from the verification system that the software component is approved; and
downloading the software component to a gaming machine.
29 .- 37 . (canceled)
38 . A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing a method for auditing a gaming machine, the method comprising:
communicably coupling a verification system to a gaming machine, the verification system operable to verify the software component is approved for use in a jurisdiction;
requesting a list of software components present on the gaming machine;
selecting at least one software component from the list of components; and
verifying that the at least one software component is an approved software component.
39 .- 46 . (canceled)