1. An electronic gaming system for providing authentication of a data set associated with a casino type game, said system comprising:
(a) a first storage means for storing a game data set and a game signature comprising an encrypted version of a unique primary abbreviated game bit string computed from said game data set;
(b) a second storage means for storing,
an anchor application including a first authentication program capable of determining the validity of said game data set by,
computing a complementary abbreviated game bit string from said game data set,
decrypting said game signature set to recover said primary abbreviated game bit string,
comparing said complementary abbreviated game bit string with said primary abbreviated game bit string to determine whether a match is present, and
an anchor signature including an encrypted version of a unique primary abbreviated anchor bit string computed from said anchor application;
(c) a third storage means for storing a second authentication program capable of determining the validity of said anchor application by,
computing a complementary abbreviated anchor bit string from said anchor application,
decrypting said anchor signature to recover said primary abbreviated anchor bit string, and
comparing said complementary abbreviated anchor bit string with said primary abbreviated anchor bit string to determine whether a match is present; and
(d) processing means for enabling said first authentication program to determine the validity of said game data set and for enabling said second authentication program to determine the validity of said anchor application.
2. An electronic gaming system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a fourth storage means for storing basic inputoutput system (BIOS) code.
3. An electronic gaming system as recited in claim 2 wherein said fourth storage means is an unalterable ROM device.
4. An electronic gaming system as recited in claim 1 wherein said third storage means further stores operating system code, operating system drivers, and bootstrap code.
5. An electronic gaming system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first storage means and said second storage means comprise a single mass storage means.
6. An electronic gaming system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first storage means is a mass storage memory device.
7. An electronic gaming system as recited in claim 1 wherein said third storage means is an unalterable read only memory.
8. An electronic gaming system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first storage means is a CD ROM.
9. An electronic gaming system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first storage means is a hard disk drive.
10. An electronic gaming system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first storage means comprises a network storage system which is remote from the electronic gaming system.
11. An electronic gaming system as recited in claim 1 wherein said second storage means comprises a network storage system which is remote from the electronic gaming system.
12. An electronic gaming system as recited in claim 1 wherein said game data set is a game-modifying data set for changing game rules parameters of the casino type game.
13. An electronic gaming system as recited in claim 12 wherein said game-modifying data set includes a money handler modifying data set for changing money handling parameters of the casino type game.
14. An electronic gaming system as recited in claim 12 wherein said game-modifying data sets include a graphics modifying data set for changing graphics parameters of the casino type game.
15. An electronic gaming system as recited in claim 12 wherein said game-modifying data sets include a sound driver modifying data set for changing sound parameters of the casino type game.
16. A casino gaming apparatus, comprising:
a casino game console;
a video display unit;
a main memory providing an executable space for a processor, said main memory being disposed in said casino game console;
a disk memory having gaming data relating to a casino game stored therein;
a nonvolatile memory operable to store gaming data at least related to the play of the casino game; and
a memory storing an operating system, said memory being disposed in said casino game console, wherein the operating system is enabled to control the disk memory and wherein the operating system is authenticated prior to the gaming data relating to the casino game;
the processor disposed in said casino game console and being operatively coupled to said video display unit, said main memory, said nonvolatile memory, said memory and said disk memory,
said processor operable to cause said gaming data stored in said disk memory to be transferred to said main memory,
said processor operable to cause said gaming data that was transferred from said disk memory to said main memory to be authenticated based on comparison of a message digest generated by performing a one-way hash function on said gaming data being authenticated with a message digest previously generated by performing a one-way hash function on known gaming data, each of said one-way hash functions producing a fixed-size string of bits, and
said processor causing a remedial action to be taken if said gaming data transferred from said disk memory to said main memory is not authentic as determined by said processor.
17. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the operating system is adapted for allowing access to files in a file system on the disk memory.
18. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said disk memory comprises an optical disk.
19. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16 further comprising at least one peripheral device coupled to the gaming console, the peripheral device including a memory device wherein the processor is operable to authenticate contents of the memory device.
20. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said disk memory comprises a magnetic hard disk.
21. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said disk memory is operable as a read-only memory.
22. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the disk memory is disposed in said casino game console.
23. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the disk memory is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console.
24. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the nonvolatile memory is disposed in said casino game console.
25. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the nonvolatile memory is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console.
26. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the video display unit is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console.
27. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16 further comprising a video subsystem, operatively coupled to the video display unit and operatively coupled to the processor, the video subsystem adapted for displaying still images, motion video or combinations thereof.
28. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the processor is operable to generate a plurality of different casino games and wherein the plurality of different games are stored on the disk memory.
29. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein in response to receiving a selection of a first casino game from a plurality of different casino games, the casino gaming apparatus is operable to generate a play of the first casino game on the casino gaming apparatus.
30. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 16 further comprising a sound-generating apparatus operatively coupled to the processor.
31. A casino gaming apparatus, comprising:
a casino game console;
a video display unit;
a main memory providing an executable space for a processor disposed in said casino game console;
a disk memory having gaming data relating to a casino game including program data and image data stored therein;
a memory storing software for controlling the disk memory wherein the software is authenticated prior to the gaming data related to the casino game; and
a nonvolatile memory operable to store gaming data at least related to the play of the casino game;
the processor disposed in said casino game console and being operatively coupled to said video display unit, said main memory, said memory, said nonvolatile memory and said disk memory, and
said processor operable to cause said gaming data to be authenticated based on a comparison of a first hash value generated from at least a portion of said gaming data relating to the casino game with a second hash value generated from known gaming data.
32. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 31 further comprising a memory storing logic for an operating system.
33. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 32 further comprising a secure loader adapted to control a loading of the portions of the gaming data related to the casino game from the disk memory.
34. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 32 wherein the logic for the operating system is authenticated prior to loading the portions of the casino game from the disk memory.
35. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein the operating system is adapted for allowing access to files in a file system on the disk memory.
36. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein said disk memory comprises an optical disk.
37. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 31 further comprising at least one peripheral device coupled to the gaming console including a memory device wherein the processor is operable to authenticate contents of the memory device.
38. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein said disk memory comprises a magnetic hard disk.
39. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein said disk memory is operable as a read-only memory.
40. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein the disk memory is disposed in said casino game console.
41. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein the disk memory is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console.
42. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein the nonvolatile memory is disposed in said casino game console.
43. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein the nonvolatile memory is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console.
44. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein the video display unit is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console.
45. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 31 further comprising a video subsystem, operatively coupled to the video display unit and operatively coupled to the processor, adapted for displaying still images, motion video or combinations thereof.
46. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein the processor is operable to generate a plurality of different casino games and wherein the plurality of different games are stored on the disk memory.
47. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 31 wherein in response to receiving a selection of a first casino game from a plurality of different casino games, the casino gaming apparatus is operable to generate a play of the first casino game on the casino gaming apparatus.
48. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 31 further comprising a sound-generating apparatus operatively coupled to the processor.
49. A casino gaming apparatus, comprising:
a casino game console;
a video display unit;
a main memory providing an executable space for a processor, said main memory being disposed in said casino game console;
a disk memory, said disk memory having gaming data relating to a casino game stored therein; and
a memory storing system logic for reading files in a file system on the disk memory wherein the system logic is authenticated prior to authenticating the gaming data, said memory being disposed in said casino game console;
the processor disposed in said casino game console and being operatively coupled to said video display unit, said main memory, said memory and said disk memory,
said processor operable to cause said gaming data to be authenticated based on a comparison of data generated by said processor from a hash function applied to said gaming data with data generated from the hash function applied to known gaming data, and
said processor operable to cause a remedial action to be taken based on an outcome of said authentication of said gaming data.
50. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 49 wherein the memory is an unalterable memory separate from the main memory and separate from the disk the memory.
51. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 49 wherein the memory is an alterable memory separate from the main memory and separate from the disk memory.
52. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 49 wherein the processor is operable to cause information related to the authentication to be transferred to a remote storage device.
53. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 49 wherein the system logic is a function of an operating system.
54. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 49 further comprising a first memory storing a secure loader for loading the system logic.
55. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 49 wherein said disk memory comprises an optical disk.
56. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 49 further comprising at least one peripheral device coupled to the gaming console including a memory device wherein the processor is operable to authenticate contents of the memory device.
57. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 49 wherein said disk memory comprises a magnetic hard disk.
58. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 49 wherein said disk memory is operable as a read-only memory.
59. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 49 wherein the disk memory is disposed in said casino game console.
60. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 49 wherein the disk memory is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console.
61. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 49 wherein the video display unit is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console.
62. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 49 further comprising a video subsystem, operatively coupled to the video display unit and operatively coupled to the processor, adapted for displaying still images, motion video or combinations thereof.
63. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 49 wherein the processor is operable to generate a plurality of different casino games and wherein the plurality of different games are stored on the disk memory.
64. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 49 wherein in response to receiving a selection of a first casino game from a plurality of different casino games, the casino gaming apparatus is operable to generate a play of the first casino game on the casino gaming apparatus.
65. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 49 further comprising a sound-generating apparatus operatively coupled to the processor.
66. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 49 further comprising a nonvolatile memory operable to store gaming data at least related to the play of the casino game.
67. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 66 wherein the nonvolatile memory is disposed in said casino game console.
68. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 66 wherein the nonvolatile memory is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console.
69. A casino gaming apparatus comprising:
a casino game console;
a video display unit;
a main memory providing an executable space for a processor being disposed in said casino game console;
a disk memory having gaming data relating to a casino game stored therein;
a memory storing an operating system adapted to control the disk memory wherein the operating system is authenticated prior to an authentication of the gaming data; and
at least one peripheral device coupled to the casino game console wherein the peripheral device includes a memory device for storing a fixed data set, a program or combinations thereof and wherein prior to allowing the program or the fixed data set to participate in system operations on the casino gaming apparatus, the casino gaming apparatus is operable to authenticate the fixed data set, the program or the combinations stored on the peripheral device;
the processor disposed in said casino game console and being operatively coupled to said video display unit, said main memory, said memory, the peripheral device and said disk memory,
said processor operable to cause said gaming data, the fixed data or the program to be checked based on a comparison of information generated from said gaming data, the fixed data or the program with previously generated data, and
said processor causing a remedial action to be taken based on an outcome of said checking of said gaming data, the fixed data or the program.
70. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 69 wherein the at least one peripheral device is selected from the group consisting of a NV-RAM device, a sound system device, a video subsystem device, a money handling device, a general purpose inputoutput (GPIO) interface, a network interface device, a video display, a disk controller, display lights and a manually actuable switch.
71. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 69 further comprising a network interface coupled to the casino game console for connecting to a network.
72. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 71 wherein the network includes wireless links or wired links.
73. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 71 wherein the casino gaming apparatus is operable to send gaming information via the network interface to a remote device controlled by a regulatory body.
74. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 69 wherein the casino gaming apparatus is operable to transfer the gaming data relating to the casino game from a remote storage unit connected to the gaming apparatus via a network to a memory location disposed on the gaming console.
75. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 69 wherein said processor utilizes decryption in checking said gaming data.
76. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 69 wherein said disk memory comprises an optical disk.
77. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 69 wherein said disk memory comprises a magnetic hard disk.
78. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 69 wherein said disk memory is operable as a read-only memory.
79. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 69 wherein the disk memory is disposed in said casino game console.
80. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 69 wherein the disk memory is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console.
81. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 69 wherein the video display unit is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console.
82. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 69 further comprising a video subsystem, operatively coupled to the video display unit and operatively coupled to the processor, said video subsystem adapted for displaying still images, motion video or combinations thereof.
83. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 69 wherein the processor is operable to generate a plurality of different casino games and wherein the plurality of different games are stored on the disk memory.
84. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 69 wherein in response to receiving a selection of a first casino game from a plurality of different casino games, the casino gaming apparatus is operable to generate a play of the first casino game on the casino gaming apparatus.
85. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 69 further comprising a sound-generating apparatus operatively coupled to the processor.
86. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 69 further comprising a nonvolatile memory operable to store gaming data at least related to the play of the casino game.
87. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 86 wherein the nonvolatile memory is disposed in said casino game console.
88. The casino gaming apparatus as defined in claim 86 wherein the nonvolatile memory is disposed in a remote location separate from said casino game console.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A muting device to be included in electric and electronic equipment that provides an audio output, comprising:
an external sound input unit that receives a sound from without and makes an external sound;
an internal sound input unit that only receives a sound from within and makes an internal sound;
an internal sound mask unit that compares the external sound with the internal sound, and that, if the external sound has a component corresponding to the internal sound, removes the internal sound component from the external sound and transmits the resultant external sound;
a band-pass filter circuit that samples only a sound of specific frequencies from the resultant sound and transmits the sampled sound;
an input level comparison unit that receives the sampled sound, that decides whether the sampled sound signal level is equal to or larger than a predetermined reference, and that, if the signal level is equal to or larger than the reference, transmits an on-state signal; and
an audio control unit that receives the on-state signal from the input level comparison unit and mutes the internal sound.
2. The muting device to be included in electric and electronic equipment, which provides an audio output, according to claim 1, comprising:
the external sound input unit that receives a sound from without and makes an external sound;
the internal sound input unit that only receives a sound from within and makes an internal sound;
the internal sound mask unit that compares the external sound with the internal sound, and that, if the external sound has a component corresponding to the internal sound, removes the internal sound component from the external sound and transmits the resultant external sound;
the band-pass filter circuit that samples only a sound of specific frequencies from the resultant external sound and transmits the sampled sound;
a frequency designation unit that selects and designates frequencies to be sampled by the band-pass filter circuit;
the input level comparison unit that receives the sampled sound, that decides whether the sampled sound signal level is equal to or larger than a predetermined reference, and that, if the sampled sound signal level is equal to or larger than the reference, transmits an on-state signal; and
the audio control unit that receives the on-state signal from the input level comparison unit, and performs muting by silencing the internal audio output or suppressing the internal audio output to a certain signal level.
3. The muting device to be included in electric and electronic equipment, which provides an audio output, according to claim 2, wherein:
the electric and electronic equipment is a liquid crystal display television;
the muting device includes: the external sound input unit that receives a sound from without and makes an external sound; the internal sound input unit that only receives a sound from within and makes an internal sound; the internal sound mask unit that compares the external sound with the internal sound, and that, if the external sound has a component corresponding to the internal sound, removes the internal sound component from the external sound and transmits the resultant external sound; the band-pass filter circuit that samples only a sound of specific frequencies from the resultant external sound and transmits the sampled sound; the frequency designation unit that selects and designates frequencies to be sampled by the band-pass filter circuit; the input level comparison unit that receives the sampled sound, that decides whether the signal level of the input sound is equal to or larger than a predetermined reference, and that, if the signal level is equal to or larger than the reference, transmits an on-state signal; and
the audio control unit that receives the on-state signal from the input level comparison unit, and performs muting by silencing the internal audio output or suppressing the internal audio output to a certain signal level;
on receipt of the external sound sent from the external sound input unit and the internal sound sent from the internal sound input unit, the internal sound mask unit matches the audio signal levels of the external and internal sounds with each other, produces an antiphase sound of the internal sound, superimposes the antiphase internal sound on the external sound so as to lower the signal level of the internal sound component of the external sound, and thus removes the internal sound component from the external sound;
the frequency designation unit displays a menu or a text list, which includes menu items specifying a telephone ring, a female voice, a male voice, an intercom chime, a fire alarm sound, and a gas leakage alarm sound respectively, on a liquid crystal screen using an on-screen display (OSD) facility, prompts a viewer to select-any of the menu items, and thus designates the audio frequency band associated with the selected menu item as a frequency band to be sampled by the band-pass filter circuit; and
if the audio signal level on the frequency band associated with the selected menu item and sampled from the external sound, from which the internal sound component is removed by the internal sound mask unit, by the band-pass filter circuit is equal to or larger than the reference, the audio control unit autonomously mutes the internal audio output so as to facilitate hearing of the external sound specified in the selected menu item.
4. The muting device to be included in electric and electronic equipment, which provides an audio output, according to claim 1, comprising:
the external sound input unit that receives an external sound;
the internal sound input unit that only receives an internal sound;
the internal sound mask unit that, when the electric and electronic equipment does not have the audio output thereof muted yet, compares the external sound received by the external sound input unit with the internal sound received by the internal sound input unit, and that, if the external sound has a component corresponding to the internal sound, removes the internal sound component from the external sound and transmits the resultant external sound;
the band-pass filter circuit that, when the electric and electronic equipment does not have the audio output thereof muted yet, samples only a sound of specific frequencies from the sound sent from the internal sound mask unit and transmits the sampled sound, and that, when the electric and electronic equipment has the audio output thereof muted, samples only a sound of specific frequencies from the external sound received directly by the external sound input unit and transmits the sampled sound;
a frequency designation unit that selects and designates frequencies to be sampled by the band-pass filter circuit;
the input level comparison unit that receives the sound sent from the band-pass filter circuit, that decides whether the signal level of the input sound is equal to or larger than a predetermined reference, and that, if the signal level is equal to or larger than the reference, transmits an on-state signal; and
the audio control unit that, when the electric and electronic equipment does not have the audio output thereof muted yet, performs muting by silencing the internal audio output or suppressing the internal audio output to a certain signal level in response to the on-state signal sent from the input level comparison unit, that, when the electric and electronic equipment has the audio output thereof muted, continues muting by continuously silencing the internal audio output or suppressing the internal audio output to a certain signal level in response to the on-state signal sent from the input level comparison unit, that, when the electric and electronic equipment has the audio output thereof muted, unless the on-state signal is received from the input level comparison unit, restores the internal audio output to a normal condition and terminates muting.