Information processing device that verifies a computer program, and gaming machine
An apparatus for processing information includes a memory device and a controller. The controller is configured to: access to a memory area in the memory device in which information related to a location of data including a computer program is stored; store contents of the memory area as a first inspection code into a first memory area of the memory device; at predetermined timing, access to a memory area in the memory device in which latest information is stored; store contents of the memory area as a second inspection code into a second memory area; compare the first and the second inspection codes; if the second inspection code does not agree with the first inspection code, output an error signal indicating inconsistency between the first and the second inspection codes; and if the second inspection code agrees with the first inspection code, perform verification of the computer program.
1. An apparatus for processing information, comprising:
a memory device; and
a controller, wherein
the controller is configured to:
access a memory area in the memory device storing information related to a location of computer program data;
calculate a first inspection code, a value representative of the contents of the memory device where the computer program lies, using contents of said memory area;
store said first inspection code;
upon occurrence of a predetermined condition, access said memory area in the memory device storing said information related to the location of computer program data;
calculate a second inspection code, a value representative of the contents of the memory device where the computer program lies, using contents of said memory area accessed upon occurrence of said predetermined condition;
store said second inspection code;
compare the stored first inspection code and the stored second inspection code;
if the second inspection code does not agree with the first inspection code, output an error signal indicating inconsistency between the first inspection code and the second inspection code; and
if the second inspection code agrees with the first inspection code, perform verification of the computer program.
2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a verification program executed by the controller determines whether the second inspection code agrees with the first inspection code.
3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller executes a verification program that restricts the operation of the computer program.
4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller executes a verification program that restricts the operation of the apparatus for processing information.
5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a Cyclic Redundancy Check is used for the first inspection code and the second inspection code.
6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the controller determines the predetermined timing with a verification program that uses a timing signal generated independently of the computer program to be verified.
7. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the apparatus operates in a gaming machine that includes a game controller for controlling a game with a gaming program and a display device for displaying information related to the game, and
the computer program verified by the apparatus is the gaming program.
8. The apparatus according to claim 2 , further comprising a real-time clock circuit, wherein the real-time circuit operates asynchronously to the operation of the verification program and outputs time information.
9. The apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a power unit and the real-time clock circuit includes battery, wherein the battery supplies power to continue operation if the power unit operation is suspended.
10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the verification program is in a standby mode awaiting an interruption of the power unit.