License management method

Abstract

The license manager provides an automated process that reduces the need for human interaction associated with licensing components, distribution of the same, product distribution, debugging, product building, assembly, installation, configuration and maintenance. In addition, there is an interface for use by regulators that allows the regulators to test and to receive notifications from the license manager. Finally, there is a third party interface to facilitate equipment add-ons to the system. The license management system provides enablement / disablement of software products, generation and maintenance of accounting records, and logs for licenses that are generated and distributed throughout the system. An audit trail is also created that includes who authorized the purchase of the license, as well as audit trails relating to different system levels to verify system security. Finally, a change notification system provides for the control of any changes to the system and monitors these changes on a multi-tiered level within the system.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 029,612, filed Feb. 19, 2008, which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 938,249 filed Nov. 9, 2007, which is also hereby incorporated by reference.COPYRIGHT NOTICE[0002]A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.[0003]1. Field[0004]This invention pertains generally to gaming machine systems and methods. More particularly, the present invention relates to a gaming machine operating systems, gaming machines, and methods that include downloadable and / or configura...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]Briefly, and in general terms, the license manager provides an automated process that reduces the need for human interaction associated with licensing components, distribution of the same, product distribution, debugging, product building, assembly, installation, configuration and maintenance. In addition, there is an interface for use by regulators that allows the regulators to test and to receive notifications from the license manager. Finally, there is a third party interface to facilitate equipment add-ons to the system.

[0009]The license management system further includes a separate and secure interface through which regulators can test, approve and receive notification of various licensing transactions so that upon product approval, immediate action can be taken to verify the authorization was secure, including notifying appropriate parties. This process allows for the faster distribution and processing and or correction feedback, if any.

[0010]In one embodiment, the LMS license management change system has a request process, an approval process, and a notification process. If a change is made, it is desirable to notify the appropriate people of such change. In this regard, Regulators interfaced with the system via a secure and separate partitioned area immediately can access downloaded compliance software. As such, it is no longer necessary to send out physical media, which avoids both the cost and delay associated with such transport.

Problems solved by technology

For instance, there are various areas in the management of casinos that is very labor intensive, such as reconfiguring gaming machines, changing games on the gaming machines, and performing cash transactions for customers.

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