Smart Card Seed Extraction for Secure Game Outcome Distribution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic gaming systems face challenges in efficiently and securely distributing large finite pools of predetermined outcomes, as they often require significant memory storage and are vulnerable to cheating due to accessible outcome data, particularly in converting traditional slot machines to operate on physically separate outcome pools without impacting gameplay experience.
Innovation Solution
The system employs secure, tamper-resistant smart card microprocessors with pseudorandom number generators to generate and distribute predetermined outcome pools, ensuring all outcomes are known in advance, using a secure computing environment and hardware security modules for secure storage and transmission, allowing for the conversion of slot machines to operate on predetermined outcomes without altering the gameplay experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual game outcomes are stored in smart card memory, then game outcomes can be securely distributed, but the memory capacity is insufficient for very large game pools in the millions or 10s of millions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential seed data from the complete game outcome pool, storing merely the seed values in smart card memory rather than the entire outcome pool. This allows the smart card to generate outcomes on-demand using a pseudorandom number generator seeded with the stored seed, thereby solving the memory capacity limitation while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary generation of the complete game outcome pool in a secure computing environment before distribution, then extracts and stores only the seed values that can reproduce the pool. This preliminary action allows the full outcome pool to be predetermined and verified before being distributed in a compact form factor.
2Length of stationary object
If predetermined outcomes are printed on physical spools, then physical separation from gaming machines is achieved, but mechanical operation presents failure risks and maintenance challenges
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical spool system with an electronic smart card system that uses electronic rather than mechanical means to achieve physical separation and distribution of game outcomes. The smart card contains the seed data and uses electronic pseudorandom number generation, eliminating mechanical wear and maintenance issues while maintaining the physical separation requirement.
3Length of stationary object
If predetermined outcomes are printed on accessible spools, then physical distribution is achieved, but the outcomes can be read by anyone with access creating cheating opportunities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the seed values from the complete outcome pool, storing these minimal essential data in the smart card. The actual outcome pool remains generated on-demand in the gaming machine's secure environment, preventing anyone from reading predetermined outcomes while still achieving physical distribution through the smart card.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a pseudorandom number generator as an intermediary between the stored seed data and the generated outcomes. This intermediary ensures that even if the smart card is accessed, the actual outcomes cannot be determined without executing the PRNG algorithm in the secure gaming machine environment, thereby preventing cheating.
4Reliability
If slot machines are converted to operate on predetermined outcomes, then regulatory compliance is achieved, but the gameplay experience may be impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of how outcomes are determined, transitioning from true random generation to pseudorandom generation based on predetermined seeds. This parameter change enables regulatory compliance for predetermined outcome games while maintaining the appearance and feel of random gameplay for players, as the PRNG produces outcomes that are statistically indistinguishable from true randomness.
Data Source
AI summary
A pool of game outcomes is generated on a smart card that is associated with a gaming machine. The pool of game outcomes is identical to a previously generated pool of game outcomes. A seed is created and a pool of game outcomes is generated using the seed, a pseudorandom number generator (pRNG), game rules, and a pool size. The seed, a game identifier associated with the game rules, and the pool size are stored in a database that is remote from the smart card. The seed, the game identifier, and the pool size are usable for audit purposes to recreate the pool of game outcomes using the same pRNG and the same game rules that are used to generate the original pool of game outcomes. A memory of the smart card associated with the gaming machine is loaded with the seed. The smart card includes same pRNG that is used to generate the original pool of game outcomes. Game outcomes are then generated during game play of the gaming machine using the seed in the memory of the smart card, the pRNG in the smart card, and the game rules used to generate the original pool of game outcomes. The game outcomes generated during game play are identical to the generated original pool of game outcomes.