NVRAM Data Backup for Wagering Game Machine Modifications

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Solution Overview

Problem

In wagering game machines, modifying the set of games often requires re-initializing or re-formatting non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM), resulting in the loss of critical data, which is undesirable for maintaining a consistent playing environment and ensuring game integrity.

Innovation Solution

A method involving copying the contents of the NVRAM to a temporary storage device, clearing the NVRAM, and then re-copied back with either structured or raw data, allowing for seamless data management and retention during game installations or modifications without losing existing critical data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If NVRAM is re-initialized or re-formatted to modify games, then game modification capability is improved, but critical data is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegame modification capabilityVSAvoidcritical data loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs a preliminary backup of critical data from NVRAM to a temporary storage device before initiating the game modification process. This preliminary action ensures that data is preserved before the NVRAM is re-initialized or re-formatted, allowing for later restoration if needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A temporary storage device serves as an intermediary between the original NVRAM and the modified NVRAM. Critical data is copied to this intermediate storage during the modification process, acting as a buffer that preserves data while allowing the NVRAM to be re-formatted for new games.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If NVRAM is re-formatted for new games, then game variety is improved, but playing environment consistency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegame varietyVSAvoidplaying environment consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Before re-formatting the NVRAM for new games, the system preliminarily copies all critical data to temporary storage. This ensures that the playing environment consistency is preserved through data backup while still allowing the NVRAM to be re-formatted for game variety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system temporarily discards the original NVRAM content during re-formatting, but recovers critical data by copying it to temporary storage first. After the new games are installed, the critical data can be recovered from temporary storage and restored to the NVRAM, maintaining playing environment consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If critical data is retained between game installations, then data integrity is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoiddata management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A temporary storage device is introduced as an intermediary component to manage data integrity. This temporary storage simplifies the data management process by providing a straightforward copy-and-paste mechanism between the original NVRAM and the modified NVRAM, rather than requiring complex data migration systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8968105B2Reorganizing a wagering game machine's NVRAM

Publication Date: 2015.03.03 LNW GAMING INC

AI summary

This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods for managing the contents of NVRAM in a wagering game machine. A method copies a first data of an NVRAM module to a storage device, wherein the NVRAM module is associated with a wagering game machine and then copies a second data to the NVRAM module.