Gaming machine

Abstract

A method of conducting a software update of a gaming machine, including: starting a boot process of the gaming machine; determining during the boot process that a memory device potentially containing at least one software component more recent than a corresponding software component currently stored in gaming machine memory is in data communication with the gaming machine; determining that the memory device contains at least one authentic, more recent software component; and updating gaming machine memory with each more recent software component.

1 . A method of conducting a software update of a gaming machine, comprising:
 starting a boot process of the gaming machine;   determining during the boot process that a memory device potentially containing at least one software component more recent than a corresponding software component currently stored in gaming machine memory is in data communication with the gaming machine;   determining that the memory device contains at least one authentic, more recent software component; and   updating gaming machine memory with each more recent software component.   
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein updating the gaming machine comprises replacing each corresponding software component with each more recent software component. 
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein determining that the memory device contains at least one authentic software component which is more recent than a corresponding software component currently stored in a memory of the gaming machine comprises:
 authenticating each software component stored on the memory device; and   determining that a version number of each authenticated software component stored on the memory device is indicative of a more recent version of the software component than a corresponding software component stored in the memory of the gaming machine.   
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 3 , comprising authenticating each software component stored on the memory device by using a public key stored at the gaming machine to verify that the software component has been signed with the corresponding public key. 
   
   
       5 . A method as claimed in  claim 4 , comprising determining that the version number is more recent if it is higher than a version of the corresponding software component. 
   
   
       6 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising determining that a main door of the gaming machine is open prior to updating each more recent authentic software component. 
   
   
       7 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising determining that a logic door of the gaming machine is open prior to updating each more recent authentic software component. 
   
   
       8 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising restarting the boot process subsequent to completion of the update. 
   
   
       9 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising continuing the boot process subsequent to completion of the update. 
   
   
       10 . A method as claimed in  claim 1  comprising determining that the memory device is connected to a USB port of the gaming machine. 
   
   
       11 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the conduct of the boot process is caused by a processor of the gaming machine executing instruction stored in gaming machine memory. 
   
   
       12 . A gaming machine comprising:
 a processor;   gaming machine memory storing updateable software components and storing instructions to cause the processor to conduct a boot process, the gaming machine arranged to:   determine during the boot process that a memory device potentially containing at least one software component more recent than a corresponding software component currently stored in gaming machine memory is in data communication with the gaming machine;   determine that the memory device contains at least one authentic, more recent software component; and   conduct an update process of gaming machine memory in respect of each more recent software component.   
   
   
       13 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 12  comprising at least one USB port, the gaming machine arranged to determine that a memory device in the form of a USB compatible drive is connected to the USB port. 
   
   
       14 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 12 , comprising a main door and arranged to determine that the main door is open prior to updating each more recent authentic software component. 
   
   
       15 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 12  comprising a logic door and arranged to determine that the logic door is open prior to updating each more recent authentic software component. 
   
   
       16 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 13 , arranged to only mount the USB drive for the duration of the boot process. 
   
   
       17 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 12 , arranged to update the gaming machine by replacing each corresponding software component with each more recent software component. 
   
   
       18 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 12 , arranged to determine that the memory device contains at least one authentic software component which is more recent than a corresponding software component currently stored in a memory of the gaming machine by:
 authenticating each software component stored on the memory device; and   determining that a version number of each authenticated software component stored on the memory device is indicative of a more recent version of the software component than a corresponding software component stored in the memory of the gaming machine.   
   
   
       19 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 18 , arranged to authenticate each software component stored on the memory device by using a public key stored at the gaming machine to verify that the software component has been signed with the corresponding public key. 
   
   
       20 . A gaming machine as claimed in  claim 18 , arranged to determine that the version number is more recent if it is higher than a version of the corresponding software component.