ELECTRONIC SECURITY TECHNIQUE FOR GAMING SOFTWARE

摘要

A method and apparatus for securing the game program software and related data files used by a gaming device and for authenticating such files during game startup and play. In one embodiment of the present invention, a verification code is generated by the manufacturer for each software file and data file used by the game. The verification codes are stored in a non-volatile, tamper-proof, read-only memory device securely attached to the gaming device. On the occurrence of certain pre-defined events, the stored verification code is used to validate the game software and data files. Verification consists of calculating a live verification code for some or all of the software and data files present in the alterable random access memory using the same method chosen to create the stored verification code. In some embodiments of the present invention, the verification code is the result of a hash function of trusted copies of each software and related data file.