Random number generation device for authenticating results of electronic lottery and opportunity and skill game simulator (SLJAH) deployed on computer

Abstract

The apparatus of the subject matter of the patent application is composed of a metal plate housing that accommodates an electronic circuit, a printer, and a printing tray having a shielding function that prevents visualization of printed content. The device is equipped with a tamper-proof sensor, and the sensor is used to detect the opening and / or tampering of the housing. It is an object of the device to provide indisputable authentication of lottery and opportunity gaming and skill gaming simulator results dependent on random numbers in its operation. The device generates a random number, prints it on thermal paper in a ticket format, and sends the print to a tray that hides content but allows visibility of the ticket. The printed number is then sent to the simulator for processing the gaming. At the end of the lottery or game, the device pops the ticket out of the enclosure, allowing access thereto. The party of interest can then check the number printed on the ticket against those displayed on the monitor or other device displaying the results in the simulator.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This is an invention of an electromechanical device for the instant and independent authentication of the results produced by a lottery gaming skill simulator (SLJAH), which device is suitable for use in the field of gaming which relies partly or wholly on random numbers for its implementation and for this purpose uses a random or pseudo-random number generator implemented in software processed by a computer or other digital electronic circuit. Background Art

[0002] Currently, SLJAH in many or all of its current implementations requires random generation of gaming elements, whether these elements are numbers or any type of graphical symbols, in a random or pseudo-random manner. All existing SLJAHs implement chance and unpredictability in their gaming with the help of random or pseudo-random numbers. These numbers can be generated in two different ways: through natural entropy, or "natural randomness": In the real world, there are many factors involved in calculating the probability of a particular outcome of, say, a dice game. Factors such as air flow direction and speed, surface level, throwing angle, and many others must be considered.

[0003] Therefore, "real" random number generators reflect this entropy (i.e., disorder in the natural state). These generators are represented by the acronym TRNG, from the English True Random Number Generator. Another possible way to generate arbitrary numbers / random numbers is to not take into account the natural entropy. In order to compensate for the lack of entropy and thus simulate real randomness, an initial value is used, usually called a "seed", which will be applied to the equation (formula). Using this method, the equation (formula) is able to create an arbitrary number / random number sequence that does not present any predictability pattern. This type of generator is called PRNG, from the English Pseudo Random Number Generator. For technical convenience, most SLJAHs adopt the latter, i.e. PRNG, which can be obtained with the help of a variety of formulas and mathematical methods, and can be implemented algorithmically relatively easily, and can be converted into executable code by a computer through a certain programming language. Random number generators, as the name suggests, only generate numbers, only real numbers.

[0004] As an example, in a gaming machine simulator with digital electronic control, there are 3 reels, each with 10 symbols. For each of the 10 symbols, a permanent identifier number is assigned, say from 1 to 10. Then, the PRNG generates any random number between 1 and 10 for each of the three reels; this produces a result consisting of 3 random symbols, all of which are assigned independently of each other. If they accidentally form one of the winning combinations specified in the rules of the game, the machine will pay a prize for that particular combination.

[0005] Currently, all stages of processing a game in SLJAH occur inside the software that implements the PRNG, eventually (depending on the nature of the game) formatting the numbers obtained in the execution of the PRNG into a configuration more suitable for processing (e.g. converting to integers, and eliminating any duplicates in the process), checking the combinations and determining if there is a winning combination, presenting the results to the user, and finally paying the prize. All of this happens inside the SLJAH software.

[0006] Limitations of current technology

[0007] There are still unresolved technical problems in the current technology. Currently, due to its electronic digital nature, the entire process takes place inside the SLJAH, away from the sight of the user, and the user has no reliable, immediate, direct and objective way to ensure that the SLJAH effectively produces the presented results without any interference, except to strictly abide by and follow the lottery / gambling rules implemented in the SLJAH, which are previously known to the user.

[0008] The current SLJAHs do not have any provision to prove / demonstrate to their users that the combinations presented to them at the end of each draw / game are free of any defects or interferences that could in some way alter the sequence of random numbers generated by the random number generator algorithm from the initial generation process to the verification, transmission and display, and could impose any changes on the results presented to the user compared to the original results obtained immediately after the random numbers were generated, whether such changes are the result of inappropriate and deliberate manipulation, inconsistent with the rules of the game known to the user, or due to defects and malfunctions of the device; and this lack of evidence constitutes an important functional limitation of the current SLJAHs: modern legislation and regulatory practices are tending towards requiring companies to provide consumers with greater transparency in any goods and services, and the manufacturing and sales industry of SLJAHs still lacks transparency in the processing and presentation of draw and game results, whether for active or passive reasons, since there are currently no technical means available to users or even regulators to verify the results generated by SLJAHs in a simple, efficient, fast and direct manner, without resorting to complex, expensive and time-consuming forensics and investigations.

[0009] Comparison of the device with existing technologies: Eliminates important limitations, with significant benefits for both manufacturers of SLJAH and their users and their inspections

[0010] The device solves the questionable authenticity and transparency of the results generated in SLJAH. Generally, the device generates a random number sequence that is quickly and immediately sent to a printer that copies the sequence on a thermal paper ticket, which is then moved internally within the housing of the device to a printing tray with a concealment equipped with anti-tampering measures, which allows external and partial visualization of the unprinted parts, clearly showing the user that the random number sequence to be used by SLJAH in the lottery / game that has just begun has been generated, printed and can no longer be changed. These sequences will be presented to the user at the end of each lottery / game, while the results are presented by SLJAH.

[0011] After ensuring that the printing and the transfer to the hidden printing tray have been completed, the device immediately sends the same sequence to the SLJAH, which will only then be able to start the lottery / game process and should perform checks using only the numbers of the sequence and in the same order of reception, with the aim of determining that the combinations formed, whether winning or not, are always according to the rules published for the game in question, and finally presenting them to the user. At the end of the lottery / game, the device will cut off the ticket and move it to the ticket outlet of the device, at which point the user will have access to the tickets with the printed sequence initially generated, even before the SLJAH can access them, and will then be able to compare the sequence generated by the device with the sequence presented by the simulator, which must be strictly identical.

[0012] Thus, the device that is the subject of the present patent application eliminates the inherent limitation that the current SLJAH cannot authenticate the results, in a sense, by providing an external mechanism for independent authentication of the presented results, eliminating interference, changes or defects imposed by intentional or unintentional processing. This is because the generation of the random number sequence that leads to the winning or non-winning combination will occur externally and independently of the SLJAH, which will only passively receive the random number sequence for processing, and even only after these same sequences have been pre-printed, thus becoming unchangeable and irreversible, and partially available to the user in an opaque form until the draw / game is completed. Due to its external and independent nature, the device operates and is compatible with any SLJAH that is capable of external communication by means of a standard and widely used interface. In order to use such a device, the simulators must only be modified to insert the necessary code in their respective software to implement the security protocol to command the device and receive the random number sequence and the necessary operating and security information from it.

[0013] The device is therefore an important new technical implementation with novel and innovative applications, and which has not existed so far and has no similar applications, thereby actively and comprehensively affecting the existing technology. The innovation occurs through the early presentation of the results of the lottery / game, even before the lottery / game has been completed, and at that time, visually notifying the user of the existence of an already irreversible result, however, without making them aware of this until the lottery / game is over, thereby providing the manufacturers of SLJAH, their users, and even regulatory agencies with an instant, simple, direct and low-cost method for authenticating the results generated by the SLJAH, thereby ensuring that these results faithfully reflect the random numbers originally generated and are not subject to any control by the SLJAH other than the request to generate the sequence. The results displayed on the SLJAH results screen / result display medium must be the same as the results displayed on the ticket printed before the lottery / game was started. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 is a front view of the device.

[0015] Figure 2 It is a left front oblique exploded perspective view of the device.

[0016] Figure 3 is a side cross-sectional perspective view of the device - View A: closed front tilt cover; View B: open front tilt cover tilting forward.

[0017] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the build tray with full masking capabilities.

[0018] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a print tray assembly having a shielding function without a cover.

[0019] Figure 6 It is the temporary positioning details of the thermal paper ticket.

[0020] Figure 7 Details are on the tilt of the front cover of the case as well as the printer support.

[0021] Figure 8 It is a block diagram of a microcontroller electronic circuit.

[0022] Figure 8a is a diagram of the power supply and voltage regulator circuit.

[0023] Figure 8b is the microcontroller and external memory.

[0024] Figure 8c is the sensor controller circuit.

[0025] Fig. 9 Here are the details of the lower rear part of the device's casing - the power connection and the USB port.

[0026] Fig.10 This is the logic flow chart of SLJAH interacting with the device - Part 1.

[0027] Fig.11 This is the logic flow chart of SLJAH interacting with the device - Part 2.

[0028] Fig.12 This is the logic flow chart of SLJAH interacting with the device - Part 3.

[0029] Fig.13 is a view of a typical installation of a SLJAH attached to the device.

[0030] Fig.14 It is a thermal paper ticket layout. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Detailed description of the invention. The present device is a unit providing complementary and parallel processing to a Lottery and Gaming and Skill Simulator (SLJAH) to which it is connected. The purpose of the present device is to ensure that the random number sequence provided by the micro-control electronic circuit equipped by the device (requested by the SLJAH) is effectively received, processed by the SLJAH and presented to the user without any possibility of changes in the content and / or sequence order during the processing by the simulator.

[0032] SLJAH( Fig.13 Views A, B, C, D, and E (1)) start the process by sending a status check command ( Fig.10 ), which will be sent by the USB serial port ( Figure 8d (U12)) receives and sends to the device ( Fig.13 Views A, B, C, D and E of (2)) of an electronic circuit ( Figure 2 (5))CPU( Figure 8 (CPU) Figure 8 The protocol is known to the SLJAH and the device's electronics. For this command, one of two possible responses will be returned to the SLJAH via the USB serial port ( Figure 8d (U12)), otherwise no response will be returned at all: YES or NOT AVAILABLE ( Fig.10 ); if NOT AVAILABLE is returned, the SLJAH must follow the logic flow it deems best to handle this state: continue sending the same command until the device becomes AVAILABLE or interrupts its operation.

[0033] Reasons why the interface returns NOT AVAILABLE: Case opened / sensor tampered ( Figure 2 (21) and Figure 3 (21)) is obtained by using the subcircuit ( Figure 8c Electronic circuit activation and monitoring of SWT_01 and SWT_02). For thermal paper tickets ( Figure 5 View B (8:1 / 15)) The photoelectric sensors of the presence and limit switches are controlled by the corresponding controller ( Figure 8c (U5)) activation and monitoring; and / or for preventing invalid, premature and / or unauthorized use of thermal paper tickets ( Figure 5 The photoelectric sensor accessed by the corresponding controller ( Figure 8c (U5)) activation and monitoring; such sensor has a dual function: (A) confirming valid delivery of the thermal paper ticket to the user, and (B) preventing attempts to invalidate, prematurely and / or unauthorized access to the thermal paper ticket ( Figure 5 The redundant layer of view B (8:3 / 15) is triggered; other reasons for the device to return NOT AVAILABLE: the printer is out of paper ( Figure 2 (9)) or any printer error ( Figure 2 (4)). For each error, the electronic circuit of the device returns a unique and specific digital error code. And in the case of no response, there is a communication failure, the electronic circuit of the device has no power, or there is a general failure.

[0034] If the device's electronic circuitry responds to the SLJAH with a YES AVAILABLE in the form of a unique and specific digital code, the SLJAH will then send an action command ( Fig.10 ); Upon receiving this command, the electronic circuit of the device will again internally execute OK COMMAND? ( Fig.10 ), which includes the same tests performed in the Status Check Command described above; additionally, unlike the Status Check Command, the Operation Command requires parameters formatted in a manner consistent with the communications protocol to execute, so the device's electronic circuitry verifies the form and content of the command. If the electronic circuitry finds any inaccuracies or inconsistencies in any of its checks, it will respond to SLJAH with a unique and specific numeric error code, considering the Operation Command Off.

[0035] If no errors are found in the check, the electronic circuit of the device begins an operation consisting of the following four stages: (1) Generate a random number sequence; (2) Store the complete sequence, the date and time the sequence was generated, and the sequence identifier number of the sequence to an SD memory card ( Figure 8b(J15)); (3) printing the sequence (10) on a thermal paper ticket (10); (4) availability of the sequence for SLJAH.

[0036] Step (1) uses the CPU ( Figure 8b (U13)) generates ( Fig.10 ) A sequence of "k" random positive integers, up to three digits "jjj", where "k">0 & "k"<=200 and "jjj">0 & "jjj"<=200; (where "k" and "jjj" are determined by SLJAH in the operation command); This is an implementation of the code for the PRNG algorithm MT19937 Mersenne Twister. Reference: T. Nishimura, "Mersenne Twister: A 623-dimensionally distributed uniform pseudorandom number generator", ACM-Transactions on Modeling and Computer Simulation, Vol. 8, No. 1, January 1998, pp. 3-30.

[0037] On a non-volatile SD memory card ( Figure 8b The system will record the complete sequence, the date and time of sequence generation, and the sequence identification number of the sequence on the (J15) of the Memory Card. Depending on the storage capacity of the selected memory card, the system will be able to save a record of up to 300 million complete sequences, each consisting of 100 numbers, the date and time of generation, and the serial number identifying the corresponding sequence.

[0038] Step (2) involves connecting to the USB port via the serial port ( Figure 8d (U11)) to thermal paper printer ( Figure 2 (4), ( Figure 7 (4))) sends the entire sequence of print commands to be printed in the order generated by the thermal paper printer. As it is printed, the thermal paper ticket is moved and the available area for printing ( Fig.14 (C2)) facing upward, through the printing tray with a masking function ( Figure 4 View A(15)) of the guide rail ( Figure 4 of view C (27:15). When the entire available area ( Fig.14 When the (C2) has been printed, the device ends step (2) and temporarily stops the movement of the thermal paper ticket. The correct arrangement of the thermal paper ticket is determined by the sensor ( Figure 5 (8:1)) signals the electronic circuit. In this case, the available area for printing ( Fig.14 (C2)) remains stationary in a hidden printing tray ( Figure 4(15) of view A), with its lower end positioned directly above the 45° angle of the lower slope of the hidden printing tray ( Figure 6 (7:15)), so that the lower end of the printed usable area is horizontally aligned with the lower end of the central area of ​​the hidden printed tray cover, which is hidden from the outside (such as the shielding plane ( Figure 6 As shown in the projection of (28)), the masking plane is aligned with the porthole ( Figure 6 (12:18 / 15)) between ( Figure 6 (12:21 / 15)) overlap.

[0039] The entire printed useful area is correctly positioned at ( Figure 6 XX) below leads to an important achievement: through the side window piece ( Figure 6 At (12:18 / 15)), it was determined that the paper containing the random number sequence to be used by SLJAH in the lottery / gambling was in the tray, but was completely and temporarily blocked by the metal screen ( Figure 6 (12:21 / 15)) is hidden. (Only fragments of the unprinted margins can be seen in the side window pieces, Fig.14 , (L1 of length C1+C2) and (L3 of length C1+C2). At this point, at the request of SLJAH, with the help of a proprietary security protocol, using the proprietary knowledge of SLJAH and the electronic circuits of the device, it starts and ends the operation step (3), at Fig.10 Middle: The random number sequence returned to SLJAH is generated and printed. SLJAH will then process the returned sequence according to its convenience and needs, but it must restrict itself to content and order, as we will see below.

[0040] Upon completion of step (3) above, the electronic circuit of the device begins counting the timeout period ( Fig.11 ), during which it must receive an operation end command from the SLJAH. There are two possible situations in this step: (a) When the timeout period has passed and the device's electronic circuit has not received an operation end command, it will enter an operation error state and perform the following actions: (1) The command is within the margin ( Fig.14 C1), page margins ( Fig.14 The word "ERROR" is printed between (L1 and L2)) and a numeric error code specific to SLJAH is returned.

[0041] The other possibility while the electronic circuit of the device is waiting for the operation end command is (b) receiving the command before the timeout has elapsed. By issuing this command to the electronic circuit of the device, the SLJAH has completed the current lottery / game, using the sequence provided by the electronic circuit of the device in the operation command, and determining whether there are winning combinations, and presenting them to the user. Upon receiving the operation end command, the following steps will be performed ( Fig.12 ): (1) from ( Fig.14 Move the unprinted paper 89 mm from the upper lower edge of (C2) until the available area for printing passes through the ticket outlet ( Figure 7 (12:19 / 15)) is completely exposed to the outside of the device; (2) the paper is cut into a ticket form, allowing the user to access the paper; and (3) a unique and specific digital success code is returned to the SLJAH, terminating the operation end command ( Fig.12 ).

[0042] If any error occurs during the execution of the operation end command, the electronic circuit of the device will enter the operation error state and perform the following actions: (1) The command is within the margin ( Fig.14 C1) in the margin ( Fig.14 The word "ERROR" is printed between L1 and L2) of the SLJAH command, and a numeric error code specific to SLJAH is returned.

[0043] If the operation has been successfully completed, the user will hold a ticket containing a random number sequence that must be used by SLJAH, which has the same content and the same order. The user will be able to verify that the combinations presented (whether winning or not) are identical to those independently generated by the device, the content and order of which have been printed before being provided to SLJAH. This is an important and unprecedented achievement: users will be able to instantly and instantaneously authenticate the results of the lottery / game that has just ended, checking the content and sequence order on their ticket against the results displayed on the screen, or by any means provided by SLJAH to make the results available. And both must be identical. The only possible hypothesis for the difference between the results of the lottery / game presented by SLJAH and the content of the ticket generated by the device is whether there is any modification, change, interference or even defect in SLJAH during the processing by SLJAH, characterized as an irreparable defect.

[0044] The unit requires minimal maintenance, only the thermal paper ticket roll needs to be replaced. Figure 7 The front flap of the case is shown to provide access to the interior. View A is a perspective view of the case with the front tilted cover closed, at an angle of 90° to the vertical plane ( Figure 7 (2)). The printer's tilt bracket is also 90° to the vertical plane. Figure 7 In this case, the front tilt cover of the housing will be opened by rotating it counterclockwise about the pivot point, and the printer's tilt support will only move in a clockwise motion of the pivot point ( Figure 7 (24)).

[0045] Figure 7 View B of the Figure shows the front tilt cover of the enclosure and the printer stand in the open position at 0° from the vertical. This position is intended to allow maintenance or replacement of the electronic circuit board which is located in the vertical position on the fixed rear cover of the enclosure; and also to allow direct and easy access to the thermal paper ticket roll. The pivot point of the front tilt cover of the enclosure ( Figure 7 (25)) indicates that in this position the only possible pivoting movement would be in the clockwise direction.

Claims

1. A random number generator device for authenticating the results of an electronic lottery and chance and skill game simulator (SLJAH) implemented by a digital computer, wherein the device includes a printing tray with a masking function and an anti-tampering security function, consisting of the following components: An external metal shielding auxiliary part having a porthole part and an outer cover for a ticket outlet and a shielding function for a thermal paper ticket; a top reverse cover of transparent PETG for preventing unauthorized access to the thermal paper ticket displayed in the porthole part; a print tray guide; a stainless steel bottom ramp for placing thermal paper tickets; a photoelectric sensor for the presence and limit switch of the thermal paper ticket; a photoelectric sensor for preventing attempts to invalidate, prematurely or unauthorized access to paper / tickets; a dual-function photoelectric sensor: (1) for confirmation of the ticket output of the thermal paper ticket; and (2) for redundant protection against attempts to invalidate, prematurely and / or unauthorized access to the thermal paper ticket.

2. A random number generator device for authenticating the results of an electronic lottery and chance and skill game simulator (SLJAH) implemented by a digital computer according to claim 1, wherein the device includes an electronic circuit and photodiodes (D2 and D3), resistors (R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10), capacitors (C1, C2 and C3, C4, C5, C6, C7 and C8), transistors (Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4), a battery charger IC (U1), a voltage regulator IC (U2); an IC microcontroller (U13); an IC SPI controller for an SD card (U14); an IC level converter for a photosensor (U3, U4, U5, U6, U5, U8, U9 and U10); a microswitch (SWT_01, SWT, SWT_02); and a serial USB communication port (U11 and U12).

3. A random number generator device for authenticating the results of an electronic lottery and chance and skill game simulator (SLJAH) implemented by a digital computer according to claim 2, wherein the communication between the device and the SLJAH is carried out by means of a proprietary communication protocol, configured to perform the following functions previously stored in the form of firmware: checking the consistency of the electronic circuit functions; generating pseudo-random numbers; Formatting / normalizing these pseudo-random numbers; creating, maintaining and storing a sequence log, generating corresponding date and time and sequential identifier numbers; monitoring security sensors on the print tray; maintaining the physical integrity of the tray; Printing a pseudo-random number sequence; monitoring the displacement of the thermal paper ticket from the time of printing to the final delivery to the user.

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