Gaming Network Using Host-Configured Networking Protocols

Abstract

Methods and systems for using user-configured networking protocols in wagering game networks are described herein. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for using user-configured networking protocols includes receiving values for one or more user-specified options associated with a gaming device and receiving a network address request originating from the gaming device. The computer-implemented method can also include transmitting a reply destined for the gaming device, wherein the reply includes a network address and the values for the one or more user-specified options.

1 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 receiving values for one or more user-specified options associated with a gaming device;   receiving a network address request originating from the gaming device; and   transmitting a reply destined for the gaming device, wherein the reply includes a network address and the values for the one or more user-specified options.   
   
   
       2 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining that there is a policy associated with the network address request; and   determining that the policy allows transmission of the reply.   
   
   
       3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the values include configurations for the gaming device. 
   
   
       4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 3 , wherein the configurations are selected from the group consisting of audio, video, pay tables, and gaming software updates. 
   
   
       5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving the user-specified options through a graphical user interface; and   storing the user-specified options.   
   
   
       6 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving a policy through a graphical user interface; and   storing the policy.   
   
   
       7 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 1 , wherein the policy makes decisions based on allowed uptime associated with the gaming device, gaming applications executing on the gaming device, a location of the gaming device, and time. 
   
   
       8 . A computer-implemented method comprising:
 transmitting, from a gaming device in a gaming network, a DHCP discover message that includes an authentication request and an identifier of the gaming device;   receiving a DHCP offer messages, wherein the DHCP offer message includes a key identifier and a first message authentication code;   performing a validation test on the DHCP offer message;   generating a DHCP request message that includes the key identifier and a second message authentication code; and   transmitting the DHCP request message through the gaming network to a sender of the DHCP offer message.   
   
   
       9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the authentication request includes a predefined value for a DHCP authentication option. 
   
   
       10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the second message authentication code is computed using the key identifier and the DHCP request message. 
   
   
       11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein the DHCP offer message is one of a plurality of DHCP offer messages received from a plurality of DHCP servers in the gaming network, the method further comprising choosing the DHCP offer message from the plurality of DHCP offer messages. 
   
   
       12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein second message authentication code is generated by inputting the DHCP request message and the key identifier into a computation function. 
   
   
       13 . A system comprising:
 a gaming device to transmit a DHCP server-destined message;   a DHCP server to receive the DHCP server-destined message including relay agent information, to generate a gaming device-destined response message including the relay agent information, and to transmit the gaming device-destined response message; and   a relay agent to receive the DHCP server-destined message, to insert the relay agent information into the DHCP server-destined message, to forward the DHCP server-destined message to the DHCP server, to receive the gaming device-destined response message, to remove the relay agent information from the gaming device-destined response message, and to forward the gaming device-destined response message to the gaming device.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the relay agent information is selected from the group consisting of relay agent location information, time-based information, relay agent Internet protocol addresses, and relay agent media access control addresses. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of other relay agents, wherein the gaming device-destined response message includes other relay agent information associated with the other relay agents, and wherein the relay agent does not remove the other relay agent information from the gaming device-destined response message. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the DHCP server is further to determine, based on the relay agent information, configuration parameters, and wherein the DHCP server is to insert the configuration parameters into the gaming device-destined response message. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the gaming device is further to receive the gaming device-destined response message, to store the configuration parameters, and to perform gaming device operations based on the configuration parameters. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the gaming device is selected from the group consisting of gaming machines, community game servers, community presentation devices, and gaming controllers.