Methods and devices for authentication and licensing in a gaming network

摘要

Methods and devices are provided for managing licenses in gaming networks. Some aspects of the invention are provided as a license manager module that operates as part of a server-based system for provisioning and configuring gaming machines. Security and authentication techniques are provided to prevent unauthorized gaming software usage. Such gaming software may be, for example, downloaded to gaming machines in the network under the control of a gaming establishment's game management server that is in communication with a license manager device. In preferred implementations, a gaming machine is prevented from executing software for a game of chance unless the license for that game is valid and has not expired.

主权项

1. A method of managing licenses for games of chance, the method comprising:
receiving a request from a customer for at least one license for a game of chance; initializing, by at least one processor, a server authentication token for a license manager device; registering, by the at least one processor, the server authentication token for the license manager device; initializing, by the at least one processor, a license ordering authentication token; registering, by the at least one processor, the license ordering authentication token; preparing, by the at least one processor, a license document, the license document comprising information indicating one or more licenses provided to the customer, a server authentication token ID and an encrypted server authentication token password, wherein the server authentication token ID authorizes the license manager device to operate; configuring, by the at least one processor, license management software with instructions for controlling the license manager device to retrieve and decrypt the encrypted server authentication token password, wherein after the server authentication token password is decrypted, the license manager device permits a gaming machine to execute and the gaming machine executes a game of chance in accordance with at least one of said one or more licenses, said game of chance playable following receipt, by an acceptor of the gaming machine, of a physical item associated with a monetary value; identification, by a validator of the gaming machine, of the received physical item; and establishment of a credit balance based at least in part on the monetary value associated with the received and identified physical item; and providing the server authentication token, the license ordering authentication token, the license document and the license management software to the customer.