Patent ID: 7951006

Claim:
A method for downloading software from a source to a first gaming device in a network of gaming devices, the method comprising: (a) accessing first information in a first memory location of a one-time programmable or add-only memory of said first gaming device, said first information identifying at least a first hardware component of said first gaming device; (b) transmitting said first information to said source; (c) identifying said at least first hardware component with reference to said first information received from said first gaming device; (d) verifying that said software is compatible with said at least first hardware component of said first gaming device and that said software is approved for use with said at least first hardware component of said first gaming device based on the gaming jurisdiction in which said first gaming device is located, wherein said first gaming device and a second gaming device in said network of gaming devices are configured differently; (e) transmitting second information from said source to said first gaming device describing at least a first characteristic of said software and a request for an approval response verifying that said first gaming device is in a ready mode including determining if said first gaming device has current credits granted; (f) transmitting said approval response from said first gaming device to said source indicating that said first gaming device is configured to receive said download; (g) determining if said first gaming device has been idle for at least a designated amount of time; (h) transmitting said software to a programmable memory in said first gaming device and third information identifying said software from said source to said first gaming device when said first gaming device has been idle for at least said designated amount of time; and (i) storing said third information identifying said software in a second memory location of said one-time programmable or add-only memory of said first gaming device in association with said software and wherein said third information stored in said second memory location cannot be changed or erased.