Gaming machine having hardware-accelerated software authentication
Gaming machine having hardware-accelerated software authentication The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing known to me/us:- FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to gaming machines, and more particularly, to software authentication in a gaming machine. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION As a regulatory, requirement in virtually all jurisdictions that allow gaming, it is necessary to have a technique to authenticate that the software installed in a gaming machine is tested and approved. In the past, gaming manufacturers have generally used EPROM-based hardware platforms to store program code. As a result, a number of software authentication techniques have been accepted as standards throughout the gaming industry. Depending upon the preferences of the local regulatory agency, these techniques generally include either a Kobetron signature or a hash function based on the data stored in the EPROM device. Authentication of software programs basically occurs using two different methods in the field, again determined by the local regulatory agency. In one method, each EPROM is authenticated by a gaming agent prior to being installed in a gaming machine that is to be brought up for play. The EPROMs may be shipped directly to the gaming agency for authentication prior to the install date Of the machine, or may be authenticated on the casino floor as the software is being installed in the machine. In another method, authentication is conducted on a spot-check basis. A gaming agent Periodically visits a casino and picks machines selectively or at random to remove the software components for authentication. Jurisdictional requirements require that storage media containing code or data to be authenticated at power-up, continuously or at a periodic rate, or upon occunence of events such as the opening of the main door of the gaming device. Such storage media may consist of erasable programmable read-only memory devices (EPROMs), CompactFlash storage cards, hard disc drives, CD drives, etc. Authentication Of a storage media is performed by the gaming device's central processing unit (CPU). Typically, one or more hash values for all or part of the data located on the media has been generated. This hash value is usually generated using authentication algorithms such as SHA-1 or MD5. The hash is then encupted using an algorithm such as the digital signature algorithm (DSA) to foma a signature that is usually stored on the media. Additionally, to provide even more security, some or all of the data on the media may be encrypted either prior to the generation of the signature or after the generation of the signature using methods such as private key bulk encryption which includes algorithms such as the data encryption standard (DES), Triple-DES (3DES), or the advanced encryption standard (AES). In order to authenticate the data stored on the media, the CPU must decrypt any encrypted data and must regenerate the hash values and compare them to the stored values.. Authentication by the CPU may take several minutes due to increasing complexity of the gaming device's software and thus the storage size of the media. Thus, some system and/or method for speeding up the authentication process would be greatly beneficial. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the foregoing and other problems with a system and method for accelerating authentication of software in a gaming machine. The machine includes at least one storage media for storing software that controls a function of the machine, a processor for executing the software, and validation circuitry for at least partially authenticating the software. The validation circuitry is coupled to both the processor and the storage media. The above summary of the present invention is not intended to represent each embodiment, or every aspect, of the present invention. This is the purpose of the figures and the detailed description which follow. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings. Figure 1 is an isometric view of a gaming machine operable to conduct a wagering game; Figure 2 is a block diagram of a CPU in a gaming machine including validation circuitry according to the present invention; and Figure 3 is a block diagram of the validation circuitry. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative foils, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art Will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following A system and method for accelerating authentication of software in a gaming machine. The machine includes at least one storage media for storing software that controls a function of the machine, a processor for executing the software, and validation circuitry, for at least partially authenticating the software. The validation circuitry is coupled to both the processor and the storage media. MICROk PROCESSOR 22 i MAIN. VIDEO = VIDEO OUT MEMORY CIRCUITRY " -26 -30 " ---24 BATTERY BACKED r MEMORY --28 AUDIO =- AUDIO OUT CIRCUITRY -32 VALIDATION MEDIA L=.. _ /o r CONTROL CIRCUITRY ii IGH CAPACITY STORAGE MEMORY m SERIAL READ-WRFE MEMORY" BOOT MEMORY GAME AND OPERATING BOOT CODE LOTTERY TERMINAL ID SYSTEM EXECUTABLE SOUND OPERATING HASH FUNCTION PART NUMBER SYSTEM DSA VERIFY OPERATION SOUND BANKS JURISDICTION ID PUBLIC KEY GRAPHICS KEY JURISDICTION NAME DECOMPRESSION UNUSED SPACEJURISDICTION BIT CODE UTILITY ZERO FILLED OPTIONS MANIFEST FILE UNUSED SPACEJURISDICTION MAX BET ZERO FILLED DIGITAL SIGNATURE JURISDICTION MAX WIN (WHOLE DEVICE) UNUSED SPACEZERO FILLED \ DIGITAL SIGNATURE (WHOLE DEVICE) FIG. 2 1. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising:
at least one storage media for storing software associated with the wagering game; a processor for executing the software; and validation circuitry, coupled to the processor and the at least one storage media, for performing at least a portion of authentication of the software. 2. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the validation circuitry is coupled between the processor and the at least one storage media. 3. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the validation circuitry is removably connected to the machine via a cable. 4. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the validation circuitry performs at least a portion of the authentication of the software using a SHA-1 algorithm. 5. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the validation circuitry performs at least a portion of the authentication of the software using an MD5 algorithm. 6.. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the validation circuitry, performs at least a portion of the authentication of the software using a DES algorithm. 7. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the validation circuitry performs at least a portion of the authentication of the software using an 3DES algorithm. 8. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the validation circuitry performs at least a portion of the authentication of the software using a AES algorithm. 9. The gaming machine of claim 1, whereto the validation circuitry is implemented in a field programmable logic assembly. 10. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the validation circuitry is implemented in an application specific integrated circuit. 11. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the at least one storage media comprises at least one of a boot EPROM, a serial EEPROM, a CompactFlash, a hard disk drive and a CD drive. 12. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the validation circuitry further comprises:
a processor interface for interfacing the validation circuitry to the processor; validation algorithm circuitry, coupled to the processor interface, for performing a selected software validation algorithm; at least one storage media interface for interfacing the at least one storage media to the validation circuitry; and control and status registers for controlling the interfaces and the validation algorithm circuitry. 13. The gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the validation circuitry performs a hash function. 14. The gaming machine of claim 13, wherein the validation circuitry performs a digital signature algorithm. 15. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising:
a boot memory, a serial read-write memory, and a high capacity storage memory for storing software associated with the wagering game; a processor for executing the software; and validation circuitry for performing at least a portion of authentication of the software, the validation circuitry including:
a processor interface for interfacing the validation circuitry to the processor; validation algorithm circuitry coupled to the processor interface for performing a selected software validation algorithm; at least one storage media interface for interfacing each of the boot memory, the serial read-write memory, and the high capacity storage memory to the validation circuitry; and control and status registers for controlling the interfaces and the validation algorithm circuitry. 16. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the validation circuitry is coupled between the processor and the boot memory, the serial read-write memory, and the high capacity storage memory. 17. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the validation circuitry is removably connected to the machine via a cable. 18. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the validation algoritl n circuitry performs at least a portion of the authentication of the software using a SHA-1 algorithm. 19. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the validation algorithm circuitry performs at least a portion of the authentication of the software using an MD5 algorithm. 20. The ginning machine of claim 15, wherein the validation algorithm circuitry performs at least a portion of the authentication of the software using a DES algorithm. 21. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the validation algorithm circuitry performs at least a portio n of the authentication of the software using an 3DES algorithm. 22. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the validation algorithm circuitry performs at least a portion of the authentication of the software using a AES algoritt rn. 23. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the validation circuitry is implemented in a field programmable logic assembly. 24. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the validation circuitry is implemented in an application specific integrated circuit. 25. The gaming machine of claim 15, wherein the validation circuitry performs a hash function. 26. The gaming machine of claim 25, wherein the validation circuitry performs a digital signature algorithm. 27. A method for accelerating software authentication in a gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, the method comprising:
storing software associated with the wagering game on at least one storage media in the gaming machine; and performing at least a portion of authentication of the software without using a processor in the gaming machine. 28. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of performing comprises performing at least a portion of the authentication using dedicated validation circuitry. 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the step of performing at least a portion of the authentication using dedicated validation circuitry further comprises the step of removably connecting the validation circuitry between the processor and the storage media• 30. The method of claim 27, wherein the step of performing further includes the step of performing a hash function. 31. The method of claim 30 wherein the step of performing further includes the step of performing a digital signature algorithm. 32. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising:
means for storing software associated with the wagering game; means for executing the software; and means for performing at least a portion of authentication of the software without using the executing means. 33. The gaming machine of claim 32, wherein the means for performing includes validation circuitry. 34. A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game, comprising:
an alterable memory device for storing software that controls a function of the gaming machine; a processor for accessing and executing the software; and validation circuitry for at least partially authenticating the software, the validation circuitry being coupled to the alterable memory device and being distinct from the processor. 35. The gaming machine of claim 34, wherein the validation circuitry performs at least one of a SHA-1 algorithm, MD5 algorithm, DES algorithm, 3DES algorithm, AES algorithm, and DSA algorithm. 36. The gaming machine of claim 34, wherein the alterable memory device is a high capacity storage memory. 37. The gaming machine of claim 34, wherein the validation circuitry is implemented in a field programmable logic assembly or an application specific integrated circuit. 38. The gaming machine of claim 34, wherein the validation circuitry partially authenticates the software and the processor partially authenticates the software. 39. An article of manufacture comprising:
media storing a program to direct a processor to conduct a wagering game; and validation circuitry for at least partially authenticating the program, validation circuitry being distinct from the processor. 40. A gaming machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings and/or Examples. 41. A method of accelerating software authentication in a gaming machine substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings and/or Examples. 42. The steps, features, compositions and compounds disclosed herein or referred to or indicated in the specification and/or claims of this application, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or features.
DATED this SECOND day of JUNE 2004 WMS Gaming Inc.
by DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Attorneys for the applicant(s)