Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7727070?dq=oakley+5,387,949&ei=4yI4T8nkLYa80QG0xqnWAg
Timestamp: 2017-09-25 21:40:27
Document Index: 268823671

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 2002331915', 'Application No. 2002331915', 'Application No. 2006204618', 'Application No. 2002331915', 'Application No. 2002331915', 'Application No. 2002331915', 'Application No. 2004240246', 'Application No. 2', 'Application No. 2', 'Application No. 2', 'Application No. 2']

Patent US7727070 - Method and apparatus for authenticating and verifying communication on a ... - Google Patents
A method to transmit commands across a gaming network is implemented with digitally signed messages. The command messages are generated upon a triggering event, such as the winning of a bonus. The messages are digitally signed by the transmitting node and transmitted to the subservient device. When the...http://www.google.com/patents/US7727070?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7727070 - Method and apparatus for authenticating and verifying communication on a network of gaming devices
Publication number US7727070 B2
Application number US 10/783,122
Also published as CA2489880A1, CA2489880C, US20040176161
Publication number 10783122, 783122, US 7727070 B2, US 7727070B2, US-B2-7727070, US7727070 B2, US7727070B2
Inventors Michael B. Shelby, Mark N. Dailey
Patent Citations (324), Non-Patent Citations (89), Referenced by (9), Classifications (37), Legal Events (3)
Method and apparatus for authenticating and verifying communication on a network of gaming devices
US 7727070 B2
A method to transmit commands across a gaming network is implemented with digitally signed messages. The command messages are generated upon a triggering event, such as the winning of a bonus. The messages are digitally signed by the transmitting node and transmitted to the subservient device. When the subservient device receives the message, it verifies the signature and executes the command. If the signature does not verify, the subservient device may raise an alarm.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/256,949 entitled “SYSTEM FOR AWARDING A BONUS TO A GAMING DEVICE ON A WIDE AREA NETWORK” filed Sep. 27, 2002, which claims priority to provisional application U.S. 60/326,030 entitled “SYSTEM FOR AWARDING A BONUS TO A GAMING DEVICE ON A WIDE AREA NETWORK” filed Sep. 28, 2001, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein for all purposes.
All of these generally rely on manual processes for communication of promotional information to the customers and for redeeming promotions. For example, promotional offers are generally communicated via direct mail to qualifying players, or via brochures, signage and literature at a casino. Further, redemption of promotional offers—whether they are cash, complementaries, etc. —is generally done manually at a players-club booth at each casino.
Turning now to FIG. 1, indicated generally at 10 is a system constructed in accordance with the present invention. It includes a wide-area network (WAN) 12 that incorporates a single master server 14. Also included in the WAN is a configuration workstation 15, including a keyboard, monitor, and software, that permits a user of the workstation to configure the master server. Portions of WAN 12 are located at different casinos, one of which is depicted generally 16. Each casino includes a local area network (LAN), like LAN 18A at casino 16. LAN 18A includes a router 20; a concentrator 24; a slave server 26, which among other things tracks carded EGM play in a known manner; a player server 27, which provides messages to displays associated with the EGMs; a key distribution center 29 (KDC), which implements security as will be described; and a plurality of EGMs, only two of which are exemplary slot machines 28, 30. In addition, a bank controller 31 facilitates communication between slot machines 28, 30 and concentrator 24. Bank controller 31 provides the same function for an animation computer 33, which generates animated content that appears on a display 35.
The same components (except for a master server, like master server 14) appear in LANs 18B, 18C, 18D, 18E (not shown) at each of the other casinos (also not shown) on the WAN. It should be appreciated that the master server may also be located at a site remote form any of the participating casinos, or—as in the present embodiment—at one of the casinos; specifically, master server 14 is located at casino 16. Although specified network structure is depicted, the invention can be implemented on any suitable network, regardless of its design or the hardware with which it is implemented.
Other meters, such as the coin-in-meter, the game meter, the win meter, or another created meter can also be used. Each slave server is updated every half—second with data identifying each EGM whose coin-in metes advanced in the preceding half second and the amount of advance by each. From this the slave server calculates the total coin in for the period and multiplies this by the contribution rate to produce a number equal to the total accrued contribution by that slave server, and therefore its associated casino, since the current pool began accruing. This local pool value is the number transmitted over the WAN in step 40 to the master server.
In another aspect of the invention, one or more slave servers can be configured to award another bonus, preferably the CELEBRATION PRIZES® promotion, when a RANDOM REWARDS® winner is selected. In the CELEBRATION PRIZES® promotion, the slave server can be designated to award preselected EGMs a bonus when a RANDOM REWARDS® winner is selected. Only EGMs that are linked to the bonus pool that includes the winner are eligible for the CELEBRATION PRIZES® payment. Each slave server can be set to provide the CELEBRATION PRIZES® promotion, or not, and each property that provides it can set criteria establishing which of the eligible EGMs are awarded a CELEBRATION PRIZES® bonus. For example, of the eligible EMGs, CELEBRATION PRIZES® winners might be only those with a player's card in, or those whose last bet was a maximum bet, or those who registered a coin drop within a predetermined period of time, or some combination of these or other criteria.
Consideration will first be give to the setup key, which is a single identical key shared by each of the participating nodes, namely, each slave server, like slave server 27; master server 14; and each of the communication boards in the slot machines, like slot machines 28, 30 that may be selected to participate in the RANDOM REWARDS® bonus. The setup key can be installed by installing it in firmware associated with each node. This installation may be accomplished in several ways, including simply including it during the manufacturing or installation process in firmware memory. Preferably, one half of the setup key is encoded on each of two separate magnetic-strip cards. The setup key is then installed by requiring two individuals to swipe each card at each of the nodes, thereby downloading the setup key at each node. This procedure enhances security of the setup keys.
Finally, consideration will be given to payment of other bonuses, such as promotional awards, in addition to the RANDOM REWARDS® promotion described above. The present invention can implement direct payment of these rewards across multiple properties at the slot machine including, e.g., direct transfers of redeemable credits to the slot machine; direct transfers of non-redeemable credits to the slot machine XTRA CREDIT®), as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/134,598, filed Aug. 14, 1998, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes; and temporary change of the machine award schedule.
The process of adding a digital signature typically involves the transmitting node performing a hashing function over the contents of the message, either a portion of the message or the entire contents. A hashing function, such as the SHA1 mentioned previously, converts the contents of the message into a digital ‘hash.’
If the signature is verified at 61, the EGM will comply with the command contained within the digitally signed message at 64. If, for example, the command is to pay an award of $500, the award is allocated to the player, in points or money. These processes from the reception of the command to the actual execution are performed at the receiving node, such as the slave server or the EGM. The receiving node may also be referred to as a ‘subservient device’ in that slave servers are subservient to master servers and EGMs are subservient to both slave servers and master servers.
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U.S. Classification 463/42, 380/260, 380/251, 380/259, 463/29, 463/40, 463/41, 463/25
International Classification G06Q30/00, G06F, A63F13/00, G06F19/00, A63F5/04, G07F17/32, A63F, H04L12/16, H04L9/16, H04L9/32, A63F9/24
Cooperative Classification G07F17/3258, G07F17/3241, G07F17/3255, G06Q30/02, G06Q50/34, G07F17/3239, G07F17/3237, G07F17/32, G07F17/3288
European Classification G06Q50/34, G06Q30/02, G07F17/32P2, G07F17/32, G07F17/32K12, G07F17/32E6D2, G07F17/32K10, G07F17/32E6D, G07F17/32H
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:SHELBY, MICHAEL B.;DAILEY, MARK N.;REEL/FRAME:014893/0048