IP Library Granted Patent US 9,017,162
Granted Patent B2
US 9,017,162 · App. 13/682,655 · Granted Apr 28, 2015

Gaming device having hard drive based media and related methods

Inventors: Joshua D. Larsen (Las Vegas, NV); Pravinkumar Patel (Las Vegas, NV)
Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
G06F8/61G07F17/32G07F17/3202G07F17/323
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,017,162
App. No.
13/682,655
Granted
Apr 28, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various embodiments are directed to a gaming device that uses an internal hard drive for primary media storage. The software is installed on the hard drive without requiring physical access to the hard drive including, but not limited to, removal or replacement of the hard drive. According to one method, an install flash program is used to format and/or reformat an internal hard drive. Additionally, the install flash program is used to install media stored on a removable storage device onto the internal hard drive.

Claims (42)

1. A method for installing content onto an internal hard drive of a gaming device, the method comprising:

detecting whether a removable media is present on the gaming device, wherein the removable media includes one or more programs;

ascertaining whether the one or more programs on the removable media are supported by the gaming device;

installing, in response to an attendant key being turned at the gaming device, the one or more programs onto the internal hard drive from the removable media; and

presenting a completed installation message after the one or more programs are successfully installed.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying progress of the installation of one or more programs.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

presenting an option to format the internal hard drive when no removable media is present on a gaming device; and

formatting the internal hard drive.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising authenticating the one or more programs on the removable media after detecting the removable media.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising clearing NVRAM and EEPROM prior to detecting presence of the removable media.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising-presenting instructions on a display, wherein the instructions prompt an operator to turn an attendant key to install the one or more programs.

7. A method for installing one or more software programs onto an internal hard drive of a gaming device, the method comprising:

initializing the gaming device;

clearing NVRAM and EEPROM of the gaming device;

detecting whether a removable media is present on the gaming device, wherein the removable media includes software;

presenting installation options, wherein the installation options include options to install one or more software programs, remove one or more software programs, test hardware, or reformat the internal hard drive; and

installing, in response to an attendant key being turned at the gaming device, a software program out of the one of more software programs onto the internal hard drive from the removable media.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising authenticating the software program on the removable media.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the software programs comprise a plurality of games.

10. A method for installing software onto an internal hard drive of a gaming device, the method comprising:

providing the gaming device with a first compact flash;

determining whether a second compact flash is present on the gaming device;

presenting an option to format or reformat the internal hard drive; and

installing, in response to an attendant key being turned at the gaming device, media from the second compact flash onto the internal hard drive, wherein the internal hard drive is a primary storage device for media.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising ascertaining whether the media on the second compact flash is supported by the gaming device.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein presenting the option to format or reformat the internal hard drive further comprises prompting installation of the media from the second compact flash onto the internal hard drive.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising authenticating the media installed on the internal hard drive.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the media is game software.

15. A method for installing one or more game onto an internal hard drive of a gaming device, the method comprising:

presenting installation options, wherein the installation options include an option to access one or more games from a remote host;

obtaining the one or more games in response to selection of an installation option;

installing, in response to an attendant key being turned at the gaming device, the one or more games onto the internal hard drive;

presenting a completed installation message after the one or more programs are successfully installed in response to an attendant key being turned at the gaming device.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein obtaining the one or more games comprises downloading the game from the remote host.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

authorizing an operator; and

logging a download transaction on the internal hard drive.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein obtaining the one or more games comprises:

establishing a connection between the gaming device and a remote server; and

running the game from the remote server.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the connection is a secure connection.

Assignments (9)
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 23, 2025
From: LNW GAMING, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071340/0404 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE THE APPLICATION NUMBER PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 051642 FRAME: 0164. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Mar 21, 2023
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 063460/0211 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 7, 2023
From: SG GAMING, INC.
To: LNW GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 062669/0341 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2022
From: SG GAMING INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059793/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 18, 2020
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: SG GAMING, INC.
Reel/Frame 051642/0164 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 11, 2018
From: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045909/0513 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 15, 2017
From: SCIENTIFIC GAMES INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 044889/0662 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 1, 2014
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: SHFL ENTERTAINMENT, INC; ARCADE PLANET, INC.; BALLY GAMING, INC; BALLY GAMING INTERNATIONAL, INC.; BALLY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.; SIERRA DESIGN GROUP
Reel/Frame 034501/0049 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Nov 30, 2013
From: BALLY GAMING, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 031745/0001 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 12618517 · Nov 13, 2009
Related Publication 20130081011A1 · Mar 28, 2013