Gaming system and gaming system processor module

Abstract

A gaming system and processor module are therefore adapted to support simultaneous execution of two or more operating system instances. Program code is provided for play of the game uses two or more cooperating component processes partitioned such that at least one of the component processes executes using a first operating system instance, and at least one other cooperating component process executes using a further operating system instance. Each operating system instance may execute in its own virtual machine.

1 . A gaming system processor module adapted to support simultaneous execution of two or more operating system instances to thereby enable execution of program code which enables play of a game, whereby execution of the program code uses two or more cooperating component processes partitioned such that at least one of the component processes executes using a first operating system instance, and at least one other cooperating component process executes using a further operating system instance. 
   
   
       2 . A gaming system processor module as claimed in  claim 1  having a virtual machine monitor to support the simultaneous execution of two or more operating system instances, wherein each operating system instance executes in its own virtual machine. 
   
   
       3 . A gaming system processor module as claimed in  claim 2  comprising one or more physical processors. 
   
   
       4 . A gaming system processor module as claimed in  claim 3  wherein each processor has one or more processing cores. 
   
   
       5 . A gaming system processor module as claimed in  claim 2  wherein each operating system instance can be selectively provided with direct access to one or more hardware resources. 
   
   
       6 . A gaming system processor module as claimed in  claim 5  wherein any hardware resource access provided to an operating system instance is exclusive to the operating system instance. 
   
   
       7 . A gaming system processor module as claimed in  claim 6  wherein a first operating system instance acts as a host operating system and each further operating system instance acts as a guest operating system, and wherein access to hardware resources is allocated selectively to guest operating system instances under control of the host operating system. 
   
   
       8 . A gaming system processor module as claimed in  claim 7  wherein the host operating system instance is adapted to monitor the guest operating system instances and selectively restart a guest operating system instance, if necessary, when an execution error is detected in the guest operating system instance. 
   
   
       9 . A gaming system processor module as claimed in  claim 7  wherein component processes related to game play execute in a first guest operating system instance and component processes related to game presentation execute in a second guest operating system instance. 
   
   
       10 . A gaming system processor module as claimed in  claim 9  wherein the first and second operating system instances each execute a different type of operating system. 
   
   
       11 . A gaming system processor module as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the first operating system type is a LINUX operating system or variant thereof. 
   
   
       12 . A gaming system processor module as claimed in  claim 11  wherein the second guest operating system is a Microsoft Windows operating system. 
   
   
       13 . A gaming system processor module as claimed in  claim 12  wherein component processes executed using the second guest operating system include game graphics component processes. 
   
   
       14 . A gaming system processor module as claimed in  claim 13  wherein the second guest operating system is provided access to game system hardware resources for displaying game graphics. 
   
   
       15 . A gaming system comprising:
 a player interface arranged to enable a player to enter instructions to play a game and including one or more displays to display game results; and   a game controller in data communication with the player interface, the game controller comprising:
 a memory; and 
 an electronic processing arrangement adapted to support simultaneous execution of two or more operating system instances to thereby enable execution of program code which enables play of a game, whereby execution of the program code uses two or more cooperating component processes partitioned such that at least one of the component processes executes using a first operating system instance, and at least one other cooperating component process executes using a further operating system instance. 
   
   
   
       16 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the processing arrangement is provided with a virtual machine monitor to support the simultaneous execution of two or more operating system instances wherein each operating system instance executes in its own a virtual machine. 
   
   
       17 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein the processing arrangement comprises one or more physical processors. 
   
   
       18 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein each processor has one or more processing cores. 
   
   
       19 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 16  wherein each operating system instance can be selectively provided with direct access to one or more hardware resources. 
   
   
       20 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 19  wherein any hardware resource access provided to an operating system instance is exclusive to the operating system instance. 
   
   
       21 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 20  wherein a first operating system instance acts as a host operating system and each further operating system instance acts as a guest operating system, and wherein access to hardware resources is allocated selectively to guest operating system instances under control of the host operating system. 
   
   
       22 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 21  wherein component processes related to game play execute in a first operating system instance and component processes related to game presentation execute in a second guest operating system instance. 
   
   
       23 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 22  wherein the first and second operating system instances each execute a different type of operating system. 
   
   
       24 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 23  wherein the first operating system type is a LINUX operating system or variant thereof. 
   
   
       25 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the second guest operating system is a Microsoft Windows operating system. 
   
   
       26 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 25  wherein component processes executed using the second guest operating system include game graphics component processes. 
   
   
       27 . A gaming system as claimed in  claim 26  wherein the second guest operating system is provided access to game system hardware resources for displaying game graphics. 
   
   
       28 . A game controller comprising:
 a memory; and   an electronic processing arrangement adapted to support simultaneous execution of two or more operating system instances to thereby enable execution of program code which enables play of a game, whereby execution of the program code uses two or more cooperating component processes partitioned such that at least one of the component processes executes using a first operating system instance, and at least one other cooperating component process executes using a further operating system instance.   
   
   
       29 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 28  wherein the processing arrangement comprises one or more physical processors. 
   
   
       30 . A game controller as claimed in  claim 29  wherein each processor has one or more processing cores. 
   
   
       31 . A computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable instructions which when executed by a processor of a game system adapt the processor to support simultaneous execution of two or more operating system instances, to thereby enable execution of program code which enables play of a game, and execution of a the program code uses two or more cooperating component processes partitioned such that at least one of the component processes executes using a first operating system instance, and at least one other cooperating component process executes using a further operating system instance. 
   
   
       32 . A method of gaming comprising the steps of:
 providing program code which enables play of a game, wherein execution of the program code uses two or more cooperating component processes;   executing at least one of the component processes using a first operating system instance; and   executing at least one other cooperating component process using a further operating system instance, wherein the execution of the component processes in the first and further operating systems cooperates to implement the game.   
   
   
       33 . A method as claimed in  claim 32  further comprising the step of selectively providing direct hardware access to each operating system instance. 
   
   
       34 . A method as claimed in  claim 32  wherein the component processes executed in the first operating system are component processes for implementing game play and component processes executed the further operating system instance are component processes for game presentation.