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Multi-core processing in a wagering game machineRelated Patent Categories: Amusement Devices: Games, Including Means For Processing Electronic Data (e.g., Computer/video Game, Etc.), Credit/debit Monitoring Or Manipulation (e.g., Game Entry, Betting, Prize Level, Etc.)Multi-core processing in a wagering game machine description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070004501, Multi-core processing in a wagering game machine. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/694,831 filed Jun. 29, 2005, which application is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates generally to computerized wagering game machines, and more specifically to multi-core processing in a computerized wagering game machine. LIMITED COPYRIGHT WAIVER [0003] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material to which the claim of copyright protection is made. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by any person of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but reserves all other rights whatsoever. Copyright 2006, WMS Gaming, Inc. BACKGROUND [0004] Computerized wagering games have largely replaced traditional mechanical wagering game machines such as slot machines, and are rapidly being adopted to implement computerized versions of games that are traditionally played live such as poker and blackjack. These computerized games provide many benefits to the game owner and to the gambler, including greater reliability than can be achieved with a mechanical game or human dealer, more variety, sound, and animation in presentation of a game, and a lower overall cost of production and management. [0005] The elements of computerized wagering game systems are in many ways the same as the elements in the mechanical and table game counterparts in that they must be fair, they must provide sufficient feedback to the game player to make the game fun to play, and they must meet a variety of gaming regulations to ensure that both the machine owner and gamer are honest and fairly treated in implementing the game. Further, they must provide a gaming experience that is at least as attractive as the older mechanical gaming machine experience to the gamer, to ensure success in a competitive gaming market. [0006] Computerized wagering games do not rely on the dealer or other game players to facilitate game play and to provide an entertaining game playing environment, but rely upon the presentation of the game and environment generated by the wagering game machine itself. Incorporation of audio and video features into wagering games to present the wagering game, to provide help, and to enhance the environment presented are therefore important elements in the attractiveness and commercial success of a computerized wagering game system. It is not uncommon for audio voices to provide instruction and help, and to provide commentary on the wagering game being played. Music and environmental effects are also played through speakers in some wagering game systems to enhance or complement a theme of the wagering game. These sounds typically accompany video presentation of the wagering game on a screen, which itself often includes animation, video, and three-dimensional graphics as part of presentation of the wagering game. [0007] This wide variety of functions the wagering game system controls and executes impose a significant demand on the wagering game system's processor, which not only executes the operating system and wagering game software, but also performs other tasks such as verifying the integrity of the nonvolatile storage from which software is loaded. The processor typically executes each of dozens of functions as a separate process, and these dozens of processes compete with one another for a share of the processor's time and capacity. Even single programs can be run as what are known as separate threads, tasks, or processes, in which each process is a distinct series of instructions to be executed in the processor. Because many processes are in process at the same time, the processor must switch between processes and manage the resources allocated to each process to make it appear as though every process is executing at the same time. But, each process is therefore only given a fraction of the processor's time, and its performance is dependent on the operation of other executing processes. [0008] It is therefore desirable to execute the various processes in a wagering game system more efficiently. SUMMARY [0009] One example embodiment of the invention comprises a computerized wagering game system including a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to conduct or present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered. The wagering game system includes a multi-core processor having multiple processor cores, the multiple processor cores each operable to execute any thread executing in the multi-core processor. In further embodiments, the multiple processor cores and an operating system facilitate symmetric multiprocessing, parallel processing, or hyperthreading. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0010] FIG. 1 shows a computerized wagering game machine, as may be used to practice some example embodiments of the present invention. [0011] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a wagering game system having multiple processors, consistent with some example embodiments of the present invention. [0012] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method of operating a wagering game system having multiple processors, consistent with some example embodiments of the present invention. [0013] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a video system within a wagering game employing multiple video processors, consistent with some example embodiments of the present invention. [0014] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a video system within a wagering game employing multiple video processing cores, consistent with some example embodiments of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0015] In the following detailed description of example embodiments of the invention, reference is made to specific examples by way of drawings and illustrations. These examples are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and serve to illustrate how the invention may be applied to various purposes or embodiments. Other embodiments of the invention exist and are within the scope of the invention, and logical, mechanical, electrical, and other changes may be made without departing from the subject or scope of the present invention. Features or limitations of various embodiments of the invention described herein, however essential to the example embodiments in which they are incorporated, do not limit the invention as a whole, and any reference to the invention, its elements, operation, and application do not limit the invention as a whole but serve only to define these example embodiments. The following detailed description does not, therefore, limit the scope of the invention, which is defined only by the appended claims. [0016] One example embodiment of the invention seeks to improve execution of processes in a wagering game system by incorporating multiple processor cores into the wagering game system. This example comprises a computerized wagering game system including a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to conduct or present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered. The example wagering game system also includes a multi-core processor having multiple processor cores, the multiple processor cores each operable to execute any thread executing in the multi-core processor. In further embodiments, the multiple processor cores and an operating system facilitate symmetric multiprocessing, parallel processing, or hyperthreading. [0017] FIG. 1 illustrates a computerized wagering game machine, as may be used to practice some embodiments of the present invention. The computerized gaming system shown generally at 100 is a video wagering game system, which displays information for at least one wagering game upon which monetary value can be wagered on video display 101. Video display 101 is in various embodiments a CRT display, a plasma display, an LCD display, a surface conducting electron emitter display, or any other type of display suitable for displaying electronically provided display information. In some further embodiments, additional displays such as a bonus game display or top box display 102 are further operable to display electronically provided information to a wagering game player. Alternate embodiments of the invention will have other game indicators, such as mechanical reels instead of the video graphics reels shown at 103 that comprise a part of a video slot machine wagering game. Continue reading about Multi-core processing in a wagering game machine... Full patent description for Multi-core processing in a wagering game machine Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Multi-core processing in a wagering game machine patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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