GAMING MACHINE
A method of conducting a software update of a gaming machine, including: starting a boot process of the gaming machine; determining during the boot process that a memory device potentially containing at least one software component more recent than a corresponding software component currently stored in gaming machine memory is in data communication with the gaming machine; determining that the memory device contains at least one authentic, more recent software component; and updating gaming machine memory with each more recent software component.
1 . A method of conducting a software update of a gaming machine, comprising:
starting a boot process of the gaming machine;
determining during the boot process that a memory device potentially containing at least one software component more recent than a corresponding software component currently stored in gaming machine memory is in data communication with the gaming machine;
determining that the memory device contains at least one authentic, more recent software component; and
updating gaming machine memory with each more recent software component.
2 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein updating the gaming machine comprises replacing each corresponding software component with each more recent software component.
3 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein determining that the memory device contains at least one authentic software component which is more recent than a corresponding software component currently stored in a memory of the gaming machine comprises:
authenticating each software component stored on the memory device; and
determining that a version number of each authenticated software component stored on the memory device is indicative of a more recent version of the software component than a corresponding software component stored in the memory of the gaming machine.
4 . A method as claimed in claim 3 , comprising authenticating each software component stored on the memory device by using a public key stored at the gaming machine to verify that the software component has been signed with the corresponding public key.
5 . A method as claimed in claim 4 , comprising determining that the version number is more recent if it is higher than a version of the corresponding software component.
6 . A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising determining that a main door of the gaming machine is open prior to updating each more recent authentic software component.
7 . A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising determining that a logic door of the gaming machine is open prior to updating each more recent authentic software component.
8 . A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising restarting the boot process subsequent to completion of the update.
9 . A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising continuing the boot process subsequent to completion of the update.
10 . A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising determining that the memory device is connected to a USB port of the gaming machine.
11 . A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the conduct of the boot process is caused by a processor of the gaming machine executing instruction stored in gaming machine memory.
12 . A gaming machine comprising:
a processor;
gaming machine memory storing updateable software components and storing instructions to cause the processor to conduct a boot process, the gaming machine arranged to:
determine during the boot process that a memory device potentially containing at least one software component more recent than a corresponding software component currently stored in gaming machine memory is in data communication with the gaming machine;
determine that the memory device contains at least one authentic, more recent software component; and
conduct an update process of gaming machine memory in respect of each more recent software component.
13 . A gaming machine as claimed in claim 12 comprising at least one USB port, the gaming machine arranged to determine that a memory device in the form of a USB compatible drive is connected to the USB port.
14 . A gaming machine as claimed in claim 12 , comprising a main door and arranged to determine that the main door is open prior to updating each more recent authentic software component.
15 . A gaming machine as claimed in claim 12 comprising a logic door and arranged to determine that the logic door is open prior to updating each more recent authentic software component.
16 . A gaming machine as claimed in claim 13 , arranged to only mount the USB drive for the duration of the boot process.
17 . A gaming machine as claimed in claim 12 , arranged to update the gaming machine by replacing each corresponding software component with each more recent software component.
18 . A gaming machine as claimed in claim 12 , arranged to determine that the memory device contains at least one authentic software component which is more recent than a corresponding software component currently stored in a memory of the gaming machine by:
authenticating each software component stored on the memory device; and
determining that a version number of each authenticated software component stored on the memory device is indicative of a more recent version of the software component than a corresponding software component stored in the memory of the gaming machine.
19 . A gaming machine as claimed in claim 18 , arranged to authenticate each software component stored on the memory device by using a public key stored at the gaming machine to verify that the software component has been signed with the corresponding public key.
20 . A gaming machine as claimed in claim 18 , arranged to determine that the version number is more recent if it is higher than a version of the corresponding software component.