EP1868170A1 - Slot machine with exchangeable game data carriers - Google Patents

Abstract

The gambling machine (10) comprises a housing (12) and a processor-supported play unit (16) with volatile main memory (20). A gathering unit (54) is provided for reading exchangeable data medium (58), which contains the data of the play that is played. The exchangeable data medium is provided in the form of Compact disc read only memory, Digital video disk read only memory, non removable disk, smart card, secure digital memory card, compact flash card , multi media card , flash card, smart media cards and Universal serial bus memory stick.

Description

Technical area

1. a) eine prozessorgestützte Spieleinheit mit einem flüchtigen Arbeitsspeicher,
2. b) eine Bedien- und Steuereinheit zum Betätigen des Geldspielautomaten,
3. c) einen Bildgenerator mit einer Anzeige zum Darstellen eines Spiels und/oder von Spielständen,
4. d) einen Münzzähler und -prüfer
5. e) einen Münzein- und -auswurf,
6. f) Lademittel zum Laden des Spiels in den Arbeitsspeicher.

The invention relates to a slot machine with a housing comprising

1. a) a processor-based game unit with a volatile main memory,
2. b) a control and control unit for operating the slot machine,
3. c) an image generator with a display for displaying a game and / or scores,
4. d) a coin counter and auditor
5. e) a coin in and out,
6. f) loading means for loading the game into the main memory.

State of the art

Slot machines are devices for gambling. This money is introduced into a borrowing, whereby a game of the machine starts. The slot machine throws with a defined probability of a profit. There are electro-mechanical slot machines known in which, for example, three discs rotate with symbols, numbers or the like. If the same symbols of the slices or a certain combination of symbols are displayed at the same time, a profit will be made. Rollers are also used instead of the discs. Such a slot machine, for example, in the German patent DE 36 01 824 C2 described.

For security reasons and requirements of the supervisory authorities, the games in the slot machines are not interchangeable. This is to prevent that the slot machines are manipulated.

Personal computers, also called "PCs" for short, can now be found in almost every household. They are often used to play computer games. After the operating system of the personal computer has been loaded from a hard disk or a CD-ROM into the main memory, the computer is ready for further applications. The computer games are supplied as an application via data carrier to the computer.

The computers usually contain a processor unit, a main memory, a graphics card, a hard disk, a sound card and a reader for the respective data carrier. For example, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs, floppy disks, USB memory sticks, chip cards, SD cards, compact flash, MMC cards, data flash or smart media cards are frequently used as data carriers. The presentation of the game is via a screen.

There are the slot machines known to work on the basis of such a personal computer. Games are not interchangeable there for reasons of manipulation. One Vending machine displays therefore have enormous costs if a game is outdated or a new game is to be introduced. For security reasons, he currently has to change the entire slot machine.

Disclosure of the invention

The object of the invention is therefore to provide a slot machine, which has a long life and can be adapted to new circumstances or games.

According to the invention the object is achieved in that in a slot machine of the type mentioned

g) read means are provided for reading an exchangeable data medium containing the game to be played.

The invention is based on the principle that only the disk is exchanged with the game stored on it. This is achieved by providing a corresponding suitable reading device for reading a data carrier in the gaming machine. Thus, the entire hardware of a slot machine can be retained even with a new game or an adjustment or troubleshooting. Because in the invention, only the game data are exchanged. The advantage for the operator of slot machines results from the fact that he saves in particular installation costs for new hardware.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the removable media as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, hard disk, floppy disk, smart card, SD card, Compact Flash, MMC card, data flash, smart media cards or USB memory stick educated. These are largely standardized data carriers. The readers for such media are also standardized and therefore cheap and easy to obtain commercially. The production costs with such standardized components therefore remain manageable.

Depending on requirements, a preferred embodiment of the slot machine according to the invention results when the display is designed as a TFT, LCD, plasma or tube screen. Some games have fast gameplay, i. a very fast moving graphic. Not all ads are therefore equally suitable for every game. While the TFT.- LCD or plasma screens draw streaks through the afterglow effects of fast graphics, they have a pleasant image for "quiet" graphics. But they are very flat and consume little space in slot machines. Tubular displays have the advantage that they do not streak even with fast graphics. There is no afterglow available. However, they are relatively large and misshapen. Tubular screens therefore consume a lot of space in the case of the slot machine. It therefore depends on the game, which screen variant is ultimately chosen.

In an advantageous embodiment of the gaming machine according to the invention, checking means are provided which check the authenticity of a game. This action ensures that only originals and no copies of a game can be used. Because a copy can be easily manipulated by unauthorized persons or criminals.

A further advantageous measure is that protective means are provided to prevent tampering with the removable data carrier. For example, a protective agent is in a copy protection. With a copy protection, which prevents copying or at least considerably more difficult, manipulations can not be carried out easily.

According to a particularly preferred variant of the ATM according to the invention, an encryption module is provided which encrypts or decrypts data and / or data streams in the slot machine. Such an encryption module prevents, for example by suitable encryption algorithms, that manipulations can be made during the data traffic in the slot machine. The data is decrypted only at the points at the times when they are needed immediately.

A preferred embodiment of the invention further consists in that a non-volatile program memory, in particular as an EPROM, is provided for an operating system. This measure ensures that the required operating system can be loaded quickly into the main memory. The slot machine is therefore available to the user quickly to play.

A further advantageous embodiment of the ATM according to the invention is obtained by the volatile memory is designed as a dynamic RAM. The use of dynamic RAMs (= Random Access Memory) has the advantage that when you turn off the slot machine and the power supply for the RAMs omitted. As a result, all memory modules of this type lose their content and can no longer be monitored.

According to a further advantageous variant, the gaming machine according to the invention has an interface for peripheral devices. Thus, for example, printers or maintenance devices can be connected to the slot machine. There is also the possibility of such an interface to network several such slot machines with each other. The networking can also be done via radio or landline.

Further advantages emerge from the subject matter of the subclaims, as well as the drawing with the associated description.

Short description of the drawing

Fig. 1

shows a schematic schematic diagram of a slot machine according to the invention.

Preferred embodiment

In Fig. 1, 10 denotes an inventive gaming machine. The slot machine 10 has a housing 12 in which a screen 14 is arranged. The screen 14 is preferably formed as a TFT screen. Below the screen 14 is a gaming unit 16. The gaming unit 16 includes a processor 18, volatile memory 20 and a nonvolatile program memory 22. The nonvolatile program memory 22 is formed in the present embodiment as an EPROM and contains in particular the operating system which is used to operate the slot machine 10th is required. This operating system is loaded by default when turning on the slot machine 10 in the volatile memory 20. The processor 18 is connected via a bus system 57 both to the volatile main memory 20 and to the program memory 22.

An image generator 24, which is usually designed as a graphics card, generated on the instructions of the gaming unit 16 images or graphics 17, which are displayed on the screen 14. The gaming unit 16 and the image generator 24 are connected to each other via a data bus 26. The image generator 24 controls the screen 14 via connection 28. The graphics 17 graphically display the course of the game. Here is an example of an electromechanical Radspielgeldautomat simulated. Three discs 21, each with several symbols, letters or numbers rotate. The aim of the game is to preserve certain symbol combinations in fields 19 if possible. If these happen random events controlled by a random number generator, then a profit becomes due. The profit is displayed in a profit display 23. At the request of a player, the prize is paid out.

To put the slot machine 10 in operation coins or tokens are required. The slot machine 10 has for this purpose a coin slot 30. Coins 32 are inserted in a slot 34 of the coin slot 30 and counted by a coin counter and checker 36 and checked for authenticity. Winnings incurred in a game are spent on the coin issue 38 at the request of a player.

The coin counter and inspector 36 is coupled to the gaming unit 16 via a data bus 39.

The gaming machine 10 is operated with an operating and control unit 40. The control and control unit 40 includes, for example, a joy stick 42, a keypad 44 and game switch 46. The control and control unit 40 is connected via an interface 48 with the game unit 16. The control and control unit 40 may be formed as a separate module, as shown in the present figure. Alternatively, it is also possible to integrate the operating and control unit 40 in the housing 12 of the slot machine 10. Depending on the game, which runs on the slot machine 10, the various controls joy stick 40, keypad 44 or switch 46 can be used individually or in combination.

If necessary, the data flow which is conducted via the bus systems 26, 28, 39, 56 is encrypted or decrypted with an encryption module 50. The encryption module 50 therefore has access to all bus systems 26, 28, 39, 56 via corresponding access lines 52. In the figure, for reasons of clarity, only access to the bus systems 39 and 56 is shown. Access points 53 are shown as boxes above the respective bus 39 and 56, respectively. The encryption module 50 also accesses the volatile RAM 20 immediately to encrypt or decrypt data.

The processor-based gaming unit 16 is coupled to an SD card reader 54 via a bus 56. Into the SD card reader 54, an SD card 58 is inserted. The SD card 58 is a "Secure Digital Memory Card" with a non-volatile flash memory. A microcontroller is integrated in the SD card 58. The SD card 58 includes the game to be loaded into the working memory 20 of the game unit 16 in encrypted form. In principle, any other storage media such as CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, hard disk, floppy disk, chip card, SD card, compact flash, MMC card, data flash, smart media card or USB memory stick can be used. If the data medium itself contains no controller, such is integrated in the corresponding reader 56 of the slot machine 10 or belongs as a module to it.

A test module 60 checks via line 62 the authenticity of the game contained on the SD card 58. If the authenticity is confirmed, this information is communicated to the gaming unit 16 via line 64. The check can be done for example via a checksum. In the simplest case, for example, the sum of all bytes of the game is formed on the SD card 58 and stored as a 16- or 32-bit number.

To an interface 66 different peripherals, such as printer or maintenance device, can be connected.

The basic mode of operation of a slot machine 10 according to the invention is briefly explained as follows:

After turning on the slot machine 10, the processor 18 causes the operating system to load into the working memory 20. After testing and initializing the connected hardware, the game data of the inserted SD card 58 is read out via the SD card reader 54. The game data is loaded into the volatile memory 20 by the processor 18. There they are decrypted with the encryption module 50. At least one secret digital key is needed for decryption. The authenticity is determined in the present embodiment based on the serial numbers of the SD card 58 in conjunction with the secret key. In the key formation, the serial number of the SD card 58 is included. This test takes place via the test module 60.

If the test and decryption successfully completed, the game by throwing coins 32 can be started in the slot 34 of the coin slot 30.

Claims (9)

A gaming machine (10) comprising a housing (12) a) a processor-based game unit (16) with a volatile main memory (20), b) an operating and control unit (40) for actuating the slot machine (10), c) an image generator (24) with a display (14) for displaying a game and / or scores, d) a coin in (30) and ejection (38), e) a coin counter and auditor (36), f) loading means (18, 56, 57) for loading the game into the working memory (20),
characterized in that g) reading means (54) are provided for reading an exchangeable data carrier (58) containing the game to be played. Slot machine (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the exchangeable medium as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, hard disk, floppy disk, chip card, SD card (58), compact flash, MMC card, data flash, smart -Media cards or USB memory stick is formed. Slot machine (10) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the display (14) is designed as a TFT, LCD, plasma or tube screen. Gambling machine (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that checking means (60) are provided which check the authenticity of a game. Slot machine (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that protection means are provided for preventing tampering with the exchangeable data carrier. Slot machine (10) according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized by an encryption module (50) which encrypts or decrypts data and / or data streams in the slot machine (10). Slot machine (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a non-volatile program memory (22), in particular as an EPROM, is provided for an operating system. Slot machine (10) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the volatile main memory (20) is designed as a dynamic RAM. Slot machine (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by an interface (66) for peripheral devices, such as printers or maintenance devices.

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