Data protection system and game machine

Abstract

A data protection system is disclosed which is installed in a game machine together with a rewritable storage device, and protects the data stored in the storage device from illegal changes. A command receiving unit receives from the outside a command requesting data processing for the storage device. The received command is checked by a judgment unit against each valid command stored in a command storage unit. When the received command matches one of the valid commands, a data processing unit instructs the storage device to perform the data processing requested by the received command. When the received command does not match any of the valid commands, the data processing unit does not instruct the storage device to perform the data processing requested by the received command.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a game machine, and in particular, to a system which is installed in the game machine and which protects data stored in a rewritable storage device of the game machine. [0003] 2. Background Information [0004] Game machines are equipped with storage devices in which game programs and game data are stored. The game programs are used for game progress control. Game data include, for example, data used in the production of game effects such as images and sounds. [0005] The game data stored in the storage device must be protected from undergoing illegal changes (such as data appending, overwriting, and erasing) from the outside. ROMs are used in conventional game machines as the storage devices, since ROMs cannot allow data overwriting in situations where the ROMs are installed in the game machines. However, the storage capacity of the individual ROMs is generally small in comparison with...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] A game machine equipped with this data protection system according to the present invention uses a rewritable storage device, or preferably, a memory card, as a storage device in which game data are stored, in place of conventional ROMs. Memory cards are larger in capacity, smaller in size, and lower in cost than ROMs in general. Accordingly, in contrast to conventional game machines, further miniaturization of the control circuit boards is easier in the game machine of the present invention.

[0014] Furthermore, data processing for the data stored in the storage device that is requested by a received command is inhibited in the data protection system according to the present invention, unless the command matches one of the valid commands stored in the command storage unit. Accordingly, even if an unknown command is entered into the data protection system willfully for an unauthorized purpose, the storage device cannot perform the data processing caused by the command. Thus, the data stored in the storage device are effectively protected from illegal changes.

[0015] Moreover, in the data protection system according to the present invention, even if an unexpected command is issued from the game control unit that is caused by a bug included in a game program and the like, the data processing requested by the command will be inhibited. Thus, the data stored in the storage device are effectively protected from malfunctions caused by bugs and the like.

Problems solved by technology

ROMs are used in conventional game machines as the storage devices, since ROMs cannot allow data overwriting in situations where the ROMs are installed in the game machines.

However, the storage capacity of the individual ROMs is generally small in comparison with the total amount of game data.

Since further integration of the ROMs are difficult, further miniaturization of the control circuit boards are difficult.

However, with regard to unknown commands not to be stored in the storage unit, data processing for the storage device is not inhibited in the technologies.

Accordingly, if an unknown command is entered willfully for an unauthorized purpose or accidentally due to a bug in the program and the like, the data processing requested by the unknown command cannot be avoided, and therefore, there remains a risk of illegal changes in the game data.

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