Patent ID: 7062470
Filing Date: 2006-06-13
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
1. A method of protecting transaction information stored in a database associated with gaming machines, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of transaction information elements for a cashless instrument transaction from a gaming machine wherein said plurality of transaction information elements are at least for describing a value associated with the cashless instrument transaction generating a first transaction signature from at least one of the plurality of transaction information elements; recording the plurality of transaction information elements and the first transaction signature in the database wherein a portion of the transaction information elements are also stored on a cashless instrument separate from the database; generating a second transaction signature upon a request to access the recorded plurality of transaction information elements, wherein the second transaction signature is generated from at least one of the plurality of transaction information elements recorded in the database as it exists when the request is made; and verifying the contents of the database by comparing the first transaction signature, generated when the plurality of transaction elements are recorded in the database, with the second transaction signature, generated after the request is made to access the recorded plurality of transaction elements, to determine whether the contents of the database have been altered.