Patent ID: 7201662

Claim:
A method of verifying application data and using the application data to present a game on a gaming machine, the method comprising: providing the gaming machine with a fixed media for storing application data for use in presenting one or more games at the gaming machine, a main memory into which the application data is loaded from the fixed media at one or more times, and a removable media reader for reading application data from a removable media and for providing that application data to the fixed media, and a secure memory comprising an authentication software; reading first authentication data from said removable media, the first authentication data comprising a file verification table (FVT) comprising an entry for each application file of the application data and a first hash value for each application file, the FVT also comprising an encrypted file signature, the encrypted file signature obtained by performing a hash function on the FVT, the reading of the first authentication data comprising decrypting the encrypted file signature to provide a decrypted file signature; performing calculations from the authentication software on said application data to obtain second authentication data based on said application data on said removable media, the second authentication data comprising application files stored on the removable media and a re-calculated file signature obtained by performing another hash function on the FVT; comparing said first authentication data to said second authentication data, the comparing of the first and second authentication data comprising comparing the decrypted and re-calculated file signatures and, if they match, performing a hash function on each application file of the removable media to obtain a second hash value for each application file on the removable media, and one file at a time, comparing the first and second hash values; installing said application data from said removable media to said fixed media if said first authentication data is identical to said second authentication data; and loading said application data from said fixed media directly to said main memory at a plurality of later times for use in presenting a game without further authentication, whereby use of said application data at each successive use is expedited, it being established that the application data is authentic from authentication prior to loading said application data to said fixed media.