Patent ID: 8719470

Claim:
A gaming machine comprising: a main game processor configured to process game play instructions, and forming a part of a main microprocessor board; a device adapted to interface with said main game processor, the device having a unique device virtual identity code for identifying said device; and an input/output controller including: (1) a communication interface connected to said main game processor and communicable with said device; (2) a processing unit configured to identify said device using said device virtual identity code, and to enable communication between said device and said main game processor by routing command messages from said main game processor to said device that is identified using said device virtual identity code, and wherein said input/output controller provides an abstraction of attributes and commands for control of said device, said abstraction allowing said main game processor to communicate with said device via said input/output controller while being isolated from variations in device configuration, said abstraction applying to both a hardware arrangement for said device and a protocol of communicating with said device, wherein said input/output controller unloads at least a portion of control of said device from said main game processor to reduce a load on said main game processor; (3) a secure storage memory, said secure storage memory having a lockout device responsive to an unlocking code for unlocking and accessing said secure storage memory; and (4) a power monitoring module configured to monitor power, and wherein said input/output controller communicates with said power monitoring module to determine an imminent power failure and prevent access to said secure storage memory.