System and method for securing electronic games

Abstract

A game server is provided, the game server comprising a processor and a storage device coupled to the processor. The storage device stores instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to perform a method comprising: generating a first signal; transmitting an encoded first signal; receiving a second signal; and transmitting a decoding key after receiving the second signal.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A game server, comprising: 
 a processor; and    a storage device coupled to the processor and storing instructions adapted to be executed by the processor to perform a method comprising:    generating a first signal;    transmitting an encoded first signal;    receiving a second signal; and    transmitting a decoding key after receiving the second signal, the decoding key enabling a player terminal to determine the first signal.    
     
     
         2 . The game server of  claim 1 , in which the first signal comprises a number.  
     
     
         3 . The game server of  claim 1 , in which the first signal comprises a random number.  
     
     
         4 . The game server of  claim 1 , in which the first signal comprises a letter.  
     
     
         5 . The game server of  claim 1 , in which the first signal comprises a word.  
     
     
         6 . The game server of  claim 1 , in which the first signal comprises an audio signal.  
     
     
         7 . The game server of  claim 1 , in which the first signal comprises an video signal.  
     
     
         8 . The game server of  claim 1 , in which the first signal comprises an algorithm.  
     
     
         9 . The game server of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a communication port coupled to said processor and adapted to communicate with at least one player terminal.    
     
     
         10 . A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method, the method comprising: 
 generating a first signal;    transmitting an encoded first signal;    receiving a second signal; and    transmitting a decoding key after receiving the second signal, the decoding key enabling a player terminal to determine the first signal.    
     
     
         11 . A method comprising: 
 determining a first signal;    receiving an encoding key from a third party;    encoding the first signal based on the encoding key to generate an encoded first signal;    transmitting the encoded first signal to a player terminal;    receiving a second signal from the player terminal; and    transmitting a decoding key to the player terminal after receiving the second signal.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , in which the encoding key is generated by the third party.  
     
     
         13 . A method comprising: 
 receiving an encoded first signal from a player terminal, in which the encoded first signal comprises a first signal that is encoded;    generating a second signal;    receiving an encoding key from a third party;    encoding the second signal to generate an encoded second signal;    transmitting the encoded second signal to the player terminal;    receiving a decoding key from the player terminal after transmitting the second signal; and    determining the first signal based on the encoded first signal and the decoding key.    
     
     
         14 . A method comprising: 
 receiving an encoded first signal from a player terminal, in which the encoded first signal comprises a first signal that is encoded;    receiving a decoding key from the player terminal;    determining the first signal based on the encoded first signal and the decoding key;    transmitting a request for verification of the first signal to a third party, 
 the request including the decoding key; and  
   receiving from the third party an indication of whether the first signal is verified.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 determining a second signal; and    transmitting the second signal to the player terminal.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , in which receiving the decoding key comprises: 
 receiving the decoding key from the player terminal after transmitting the second signal.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 determining a second signal;    encoding the second signal to generate an encoded second signal; and    transmitting the encoded second signal to the player terminal.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , in which receiving the decoding key comprises: 
 receiving the decoding key from the player terminal after transmitting the encoded second signal.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , in which receiving from the third party an indication of whether the first signal is verified comprises: 
 receiving from the third party an indication of whether the decoding key corresponds to an encoding key that is associated with the player terminal.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , in which the encoding key is generated by the third party.  
     
     
         21 . A method comprising: 
 receiving an encoded first signal from a player terminal, in which the encoded first signal comprises a first signal that is encoded;    receiving a decoding key from the player terminal;    determining the first signal based on the encoded first signal and the decoding key;    transmitting a request for verification of the first signal to a third party, 
 the request including the encoded first signal, and  
 the request including the first signal; and  
   receiving from the third party an indication of whether the first signal is verified.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 determining a second signal; and    transmitting the second signal to the player terminal.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , in which receiving the decoding key comprises: 
 receiving the decoding key from the player terminal after transmitting the second signal.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 determining a second signal;    encoding the second signal to generate an encoded second signal; and    transmitting the encoded second signal to the player terminal.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , in which receiving the decoding key comprises: 
 receiving the decoding key from the player terminal after transmitting the encoded second signal.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , in which receiving from the third party an indication of whether the first signal is verified comprises: 
 receiving a fraud signal from the third party.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 receiving an encoding key from the third party.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , in which the encoding key is generated by the third party.  
     
     
         29 . A method comprising: 
 receiving a first encoded first signal from a player terminal, in which the first encoded first signal comprises a first signal that is encoded;    receiving a decoding key;    determining the first signal based on the first encoded first signal and the decoding key;    transmitting a request for an encoding key to a third party;    receiving the encoding key from the third party; and    determining whether the encoding key corresponds to the decoding key.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , in which the encoding key is generated by the third party.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , in which the encoding key is associated with the player terminal.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , in which determining whether the encoding key corresponds to the decoding key comprises: 
 determining whether the encoding key and the decoding key define inverse functions.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , in which determining whether the encoding key corresponds to the decoding key comprises: 
 encoding the first signal based on the encoding key to generate a second encoded first signal; and    determining whether the second encoded first signal is equal to the first encoded first signal.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 transmitting a fraud signal to the player terminal if the encoding key does not correspond to the decoding key.    
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 determining a second signal; and    transmitting the second signal to the player terminal.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 29 , in which receiving the decoding key comprises: 
 receiving the decoding key from the player terminal after transmitting the second signal.    
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising: 
 determining a second signal;    encoding the second signal to generate an encoded second signal; and    transmitting the encoded second signal to the player terminal.    
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , in which receiving the decoding key comprises: 
 receiving the decoding key from the player terminal after transmitting the encoded second signal.    
     
     
         39 . A method comprising: 
 receiving an encoded first signal from a player terminal, in which the encoded first signal comprises a first signal that is encoded;    generating a second signal;    transmitting the second signal to the player terminal;    receiving a decoding key from the player terminal after transmitting the second signal;    determining the first signal based on the encoded first signal and the decoding key; and    before transmitting the second signal, receiving an encoding key from the player terminal.    
     
     
         40 . A method comprising: 
 generating a first signal;    determining an encoding key;    generating an encoded first signal based on the first signal and the encoding key;    transmitting the encoded first signal to a player terminal;    determining a second signal that is associated with the player terminal; and    before determining the second signal, transmitting the encoding key to the player terminal.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising: 
 transmitting a decoding key to the player terminal after receiving the second signal.    
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , in which determining the encoding key comprises: 
 receiving the encoding key from a third party.    
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , in which determining the second signal comprises: 
 receiving the second signal from the player terminal.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , in which determining the second signal comprises: 
 receiving an encoded second signal from the player terminal, in which the encoded second signal comprises the second signal in an encoded format; and    receiving a decoding key from the player terminal.    
     
     
         45 . A method comprising: 
 generating a first signal;    determining at least one character;    combining the first signal and the at least one character to generate a combination of the first signal and the at least one character;    encoding the combination to generate an encoded combination;    transmitting the encoded combination to a player terminal;    receiving a second signal from the player terminal; and    transmitting a decoding key to the player terminal after receiving the second signal.    
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , in which combining comprises: 
 appending the at least one character to an end of the first signal.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , in which combining comprises: 
 appending a first character to a first end of the first signal; and    appending a second character to a second end of the first signal.    
     
     
         48 . A method comprising: 
 receiving an encoded combination from a player terminal, 
 in which the encoded combination comprises a combination that is encoded, and  
 in which the combination comprises a first signal and at least one character;  
   generating a second signal;    transmitting the second signal to the player terminal;    receiving a decoding key from the player terminal after transmitting the second signal; and    determining the at least one character based on the encoded combination and the decoding key.    
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising: 
 determining whether the at least one character matches a predetermined at least one character.    
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising: 
 receiving an indication of the predetermined at least one character from the player terminal.    
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising: 
 selecting the predetermined at least one character; and    transmitting an indication of the predetermined at least one character to the player terminal.    
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 48 , in which the at least one character comprises a letter.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 48 , in which the at least one character comprises a number.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 48 , in which the at least one character comprises a word.  
     
     
         55 . A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method, the method comprising: 
 generating a first signal;    encoding the first signal to generate an encoded first signal;    transmitting the encoded first signal to a game server;    receiving a second signal from the game server; and    transmitting a decoding key to the game server after receiving the second signal, the decoding key enabling the game server to determine the first signal based on the encoded first signal and the decoding key.    
     
     
         56 . A player terminal, comprising: 
 a processor; and    a computer readable medium storing a program, the program being operative to instruct the processor to perform a method comprising:    receiving an encoded first signal, in which the encoded first signal comprises a first signal that is encoded;    generating a second signal;    transmitting the second signal;    receiving a decoding key after transmitting the second signal; and    determining the first signal based on the encoded first signal and the decoding key.    
     
     
         57 . The player terminal of  claim 56 , further comprising: 
 a communication port coupled to the processor and adapted to communicate with at least one game server.    
     
     
         58 . A medium storing instructions adapted to be executed by a processor to perform a method, the method comprising: 
 receiving an encoded first signal from a game server, in which the encoded first signal comprises a first signal that is encoded;    generating a second signal;    transmitting the second signal to the game server;    receiving a decoding key from the game server after transmitting the second signal; and    determining the first signal based on the encoded first signal and the decoding key.    
     
     
         59 . A method comprising: 
 transmitting an encoding key to a game server;    receiving a request for verification from a player terminal, 
 the request including a decoding key;  
   determining whether the encoding key corresponds to the decoding key; and    transmitting to the player terminal an indication of whether the encoding key corresponds to the decoding key.    
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , further comprising: 
 generating the encoding key.    
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 59 , in which the decoding key is associated with the game server.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 59 , in which determining comprises: 
 determining whether the encoding key and the decoding key define inverse functions.    
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 59 , in which determining comprises: 
 determining a first number;    encoding the first number based on the encoding key to generate an encoded first number;    decoding the encoded first number based on the decoding key to generate a second number; and    determining whether the second number is equal to the first number.    
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 59 , in which transmitting to the player terminal the indication of whether the encoding key corresponds to the decoding key comprises: 
 transmitting a fraud signal to the player terminal if the encoding key does not correspond to the decoding key.    
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 59 , further comprising: 
 transmitting the encoding key to the player terminal.    
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 59 , further comprising: 
 transmitting a fraud signal to the game server if the encoding key does not correspond to the decoding key.    
     
     
         67 . A method comprising: 
 transmitting an encoding key to a game server;    receiving an encoded first signal from a player terminal, in which the encoded first signal comprises a first signal that is encoded;    receiving a second signal;    encoding the second signal based on the encoding key to generate an encoded second signal;    determining whether the encoded second signal is equal to the encoded first signal; and    transmitting to the player terminal an indication of whether the encoded second signal is equal to the encoded first signal.    
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising: 
 generating the encoding key.    
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 67 , in which transmitting to the player terminal the indication of whether the encoded second signal is equal to the encoded first signal comprises: 
 transmitting a fraud signal to the player terminal if the encoded second signal is not equal to the encoded first signal.    
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising: 
 transmitting the encoding key to the player terminal.    
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 67 , in which receiving the second signal comprises: 
 receiving the second signal from the game server.    
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 67 , in which receiving the second signal comprises: 
 receiving the second signal from the player terminal.    
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising: 
 transmitting a fraud signal to the game server if the encoded second signal is not equal to the encoded first signal.    
     
     
         74 . A method comprising: 
 determining at least one potential game outcome, 
 in which the at least one potential game outcome corresponds to a game;  
   determining a combination protocol for generating a game outcome, 
 in which the combination protocol is associated with the game,  
 in which the combination protocol has an associated first input, and  
 in which the combination protocol has an associated second input;  
   determining at least one first number;    determining a second number;    generating, for each at least one first number, a respective game outcome based on: 
 the first number,  
 the second number, and  
 the combination protocol,  
 thereby determining a set of at least one generated game outcome; and  
   determining whether each at least one potential game outcome is represented in the set of the at least one generated game outcome.    
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 74 , in which generating comprises: 
 generating, for each at least one first number, a respective result value based on: 
 the first number,  
 the second number, and  
 the combination protocol,  
   thereby determining a set of at least one result value.    
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75 , further comprising: 
 determining, for each result value of the set of at least one result value, a respective game outcome that corresponds to the result value, thereby determining the set of at least one generated game outcome.    
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 74 , further comprising: 
 receiving an indication of a table associating result values and respective outcomes; and    in which generating comprises: 
 generating, for each at least one first number, the respective game outcome based on: 
 the first number,  
 the second number,  
 the table, and  
 the combination protocol.  
 
   
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 77 , in which the table is a payout table.  
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 74 , in which determining the set of potential game outcomes comprises: 
 determining a payout table that is associated with the game.    
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 74 , further comprising: 
 determining a criterion that is associated with the first input;    determining a set of inputs that satisfy the criterion; and    in which determining the at least one first number comprises: 
 selecting the at least one first number from the set of inputs that satisfy the criterion.  
   
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 74 , in which determining the at least one first number comprises: 
 determining a set of the at least one first number, the set having a number of elements that is not less than a predetermined minimum number of elements.    
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 74 , further comprising: 
 determining a criterion that is associated with the first input;    determining a number of inputs that satisfy the criterion; and    in which determining the at least one first number comprises: 
 determining a set of the at least one first number, the set having a number of elements that is not less than a predetermined minimum percentage of the number of inputs that satisfy the criterion.  
   
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 74 , in which determining the combination protocol comprises: 
 receiving an indication of the combination protocol from a game server.    
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 74 , in which determining the combination protocol comprises: 
 selecting the combination protocol from a plurality of combination protocols.    
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 74 , in which determining the second number comprises: 
 receiving the second number from a game server.    
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 74 , in which determining the second number comprises: 
 receiving the second number from a player terminal.    
     
     
         87 . A method comprising: 
 determining a combination protocol for generating a game outcome, 
 in which the combination protocol is associated with a game,  
 in which the combination protocol has an associated first input, and  
 in which the combination protocol has an associated second input;  
   determining a first criterion that is associated with the first input;    determining at least one first number that satisfies the first criterion;    determining a second number;    generating, for each at least one first number, a respective game outcome based on: 
 the first number,  
 the second number, and  
 the combination protocol,  
 thereby determining a set of at least one generated game outcome; and  
   determining a potential game outcome, 
 in which the potential game outcome is associated with the game;  
   determining a probability of occurrence of the potential game outcome;    determining a relative frequency of representation of the potential game outcome in the set of at least one generated game outcome; and    determining a level of fairness of the combination protocol based on the probability of occurrence and the relative frequency of representation.    
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 87 , in which determining the level of fairness comprises: 
 comparing the probability of occurrence and the relative frequency of representation.    
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 87 , in which determining the level of fairness comprises: 
 determining a difference between the probability of occurrence and the relative frequency of representation; and    determining whether the difference is greater than a predetermined difference.