Patent · US Expired

Dynamic NV-RAM

US7111141B2 · kind B2 · utility

153Cited by
34References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 13, 2002
Grant dateSep 19, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 4, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2212/401
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus of dynamically storing critical data of a gaming machine by allocating and deallocating memory space in a gaming machine is disclosed. One or more embodiments describe downloading or removing a new game to a gaming machine such that all existing critical data in NV-RAM memory is left intact. In one embodiment, the invention discloses a method and apparatus for dynamically allocating and deallocating memory space to accommodate either permanent or temporary storage in an NV-RAM. A method and apparatus is provided to monitor available memory space and dynamically resize the memory in NV-RAM. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for performing an integrity check of the NV-RAM and determining whether a critical data error has occurred. In one or more embodiments, methods of compacting and shifting contents of an NV-RAM are described to consolidate available memory space or to prevent unauthorized access of NV-RAM memory.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.