Wagering Game Data Storage Using NVRAM and Hard Disk Segmentation

Solution Overview

Problem

Wagering game machines face challenges in storing critical data due to regulatory requirements that prohibit writing such data to hard disk drives, necessitating the use of non-volatile semiconductor memory devices to prevent data loss from power outages and component failures.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system where critical data is written to non-volatile semiconductor memory and then copied to a hard disk drive, ensuring data integrity and compliance with regulatory standards by maintaining a copy until the hard disk drive acknowledges successful storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If critical data is stored only on hard disk drive, then storage capacity is sufficient, but data loss occurs during power outages and component failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoiddata loss from power outage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the storage system into two distinct segments: a non-volatile semiconductor memory device for storing critical data with high reliability, and a hard disk drive for storing non-critical data with large capacity. This segmentation allows each storage medium to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between reliability and storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring the hard disk drive's health status and predicting potential failures before they occur. When degradation is detected, the system proactively migrates critical data to the non-volatile semiconductor memory device, preventing data loss before it happens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If critical data is stored on non-volatile semiconductor memory device, then data loss is prevented, but storage capacity is insufficient for growing data sets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidstorage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the storage system into two distinct segments: a non-volatile semiconductor memory device for storing critical data with high reliability, and a hard disk drive for storing non-critical data with large capacity. This segmentation allows each storage medium to be optimized for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between reliability and storage capacity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a copy of critical data in the non-volatile semiconductor memory device while maintaining the original in the hard disk drive. This copying mechanism ensures data integrity without sacrificing the large storage capacity of the hard disk drive, as only essential critical data is replicated to the smaller non-volatile memory.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Quantity of substance

If data is migrated from non-volatile memory to hard disk drive, then storage space is optimized, but data loss risk increases during migration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage space utilizationVSAvoiddata integrity during migration

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring the hard disk drive's health status and predicting potential failures before they occur. When degradation is detected, the system proactively migrates critical data to the non-volatile semiconductor memory device, preventing data loss before it happens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors the hard disk drive's health status and adjusts data migration decisions based on real-time conditions. This feedback loop ensures that data is migrated to the non-volatile semiconductor memory device when the hard disk drive shows signs of degradation, thereby optimizing storage space utilization while maintaining data integrity during and after migration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8123621B2Storing data in wagering game systems

Publication Date: 2012.02.28 LNW GAMING INC

AI summary

Systems, methods, and apparatus for storing wagering game data are described herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a wagering game unit configured to begin presentation of a wagering game and to request that wagering game data be stored. The wagering game can also be configured to wait for an indication that the wagering game data has been stored, and, after receipt of the indication, to resume presentation of the wagering game. The apparatus can also include a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) configured to store the wagering game data. The apparatus can also a hard disk drive configured to store the wagering game data. The apparatus can also include a storage controller configured to direct storage of the wagering game data in the NVRAM in response to the wagering game unit's request, to provide to the wagering game unit an indication that the wagering game data has been stored, and to direct storage of the wagering game data to the hard disk drive.