Segmented Memory Control System for Gaming Devices

Abstract

A segmented memory control system is disclosed. Specifically, multiple memory locations, including removable memory locations, are part of a gaming device. The memory locations are prioritized and data, including new data on removable memory units, with a higher priority is used by the gaming device at run time.

1 ) A segmented memory control system comprising:
 A) A gaming unit having a central processor and a primary memory, the primary memory containing a plurality of primary data sets, each comprising computer code, computer graphics, digitized sound files, or general-purpose data;   B) At least two reader units operably connected to the central processor, each reader unit capable of reading one of a plurality of removable memory units, each of which contains a plurality of data sets, each data set comprising computer code, graphics, or general-purpose data, the primary memory and the removeable memory units together comprising the memory units;   C) A means for prioritizing the reader units so that the data sets on the removable memory unit which is inserted into the reader unit with a higher priority takes precedence over the data sets on any removable memory unit which is inserted into the reader unit with a lower priority and the primary data sets in the primary memory, such that the central processor uses the data set with the higher priority during operation of the gaming unit or, if no data set with higher priority exists, the central processor uses a primary data set.   
   
   
       2 ) A segmented memory control system as in  claim 1  wherein the removable memory unit comprises a virtual removable memory unit comprising a data file located outside the gaming unit and accessible through a computer network. 
   
   
       3 ) A segmented memory control system as in  claim 1  wherein the means of prioritizing the memory units comprises assigning the primary memory and each inserted removable memory unit a unique device identifier and then setting a PATH variable such that the unique device identifiers are ordered in a desired sequence in the PATH variable such that the data sets are referred to by a plurality of unique file paths, the unique file paths then being searched by the central processor in the desired sequence for the data sets. 
   
   
       4 ) A segmented memory control system as in  claim 1  wherein the removable memory units contain a priority indicating data set which independently establishes the priority of that removable memory unit in the means for prioritizing the memory units. 
   
   
       5 ) A segmented memory control system as in  claim 1  wherein the primary memory is itself removable from the gaming unit.