Patents by Inventor Rory L. Block
Rory L. Block has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7927210Abstract: An accounting service for a gaming network including gaming machines provides systems and methods for retrieving accounting information such as gaming machine meter information from gaming machines on the gaming network. The gaming services framework comprises a set of services, protocols, XML schemas, and methods for providing gaming system functionality in a distributed, network based architecture that includes gaming machines and servers. The systems and methods provide a service-oriented framework for gaming and property management based upon internetworking technology and web services concepts.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2004Date of Patent: April 19, 2011Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Christopher W. Blackburn, Rory L. Block, Chih-Hui Jan, James P. Simmermon, Thomas A. Gentles, Vikram Swamy, Terry D. Warkentin
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Publication number: 20100285857Abstract: A gaming system and method of conducting a wagering game having a fantasy-sports feature on a gaming system is disclosed. A wager is received from a user to play the wagering game. A roster having one or more player is created, via user selection. A projected team score and an actual team score for the created roster are determined. A ratio is calculated for the actual team score to the projected team score. An award is provided to the user if the calculated ratio meets a predetermined criterion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2007Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Rory L. Block, Joel R. Jaffe, Shridhar P. Joshi, Vincent Chan, Patrick H. Kelley, Richard T. Schwartz
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Patent number: 7771276Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to wagering games and, more particularly, to a gaming network linked to a plurality of gaming machines. The gaming network has a plurality of servers dedicated to providing a shared game to a plurality of gaming terminals. The shared game may be either competitive or collaborative between players and may be a combination of both competitive and collaborative game play. The dedicated game servers are connected to a core support network that has commonly used computer resources. The communication link between the gaming terminals and servers are supported by a communication server with message directing software that allows events that occur at individual gaming terminals to be broadcast to all other gaming terminals and servers associated with that shared gaming events.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2005Date of Patent: August 10, 2010Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: John A. Beatty, Christopher W. Blackburn, Rory L. Block, Chih-Hui Jan, Terry D. Warkentin
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Publication number: 20090215528Abstract: Systems and methods provide a mechanism for a gaming machine to access game components on a file system of a file server using a remote file access protocol. The gaming components may include banner content, advertising content, denomination data, pay table, language data, video content, audio content, episodic game data, wagering game software, operating system software, device driver software and device firmware.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 30, 2006Publication date: August 27, 2009Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Rory L. Block, Muralikrishna Andra
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Publication number: 20090117989Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming system includes a method of conducting a wagering game. The method includes identifying a player as a member of certain group, and offering the player options related to the wagering game. The options are unavailable to players who are not members of the certain group.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2007Publication date: May 7, 2009Inventors: Vladimir I. Arezina, Michael J. Blankstein, Rory L. Block, Allon G. Englman, McLaurin H. Files, Mark B. Gagner, Brian R. Gamache, Jeremy M. Hornik, Joel R. Jaffe, Larry J. Pacey, Shridhar P. Joshi, Alfred Thomas, Jamie Vann, Matthew J. Ward
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Publication number: 20090036217Abstract: A gaming services framework includes web services extensions and comprises a set of services, protocols, XML schemas, and methods for providing gaming system functionality in a distributed, network based architecture. Systems and methods provide a service-oriented framework for gaming and property management based upon internetworking technology and web services concepts. One aspect of the systems and methods includes a loosely coupled architecture that consists of software components that semantically encapsulate discrete functionality (self contained and perform a single function or a related group of functions—the component describes its own inputs and outputs in a way that other software can determine what it does, how to invoke its functionality, and what result to expect). These components may be distributed and programmatically accessible (called by and exchange data with other software) over standard internetworking protocols (TCP/IP, HITP, DNS, DHCP, etc.).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2006Publication date: February 5, 2009Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Christopher W. Blackburn, Rory L. Block, Terry D. Warkentin
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Publication number: 20090029767Abstract: Systems and methods provide a way to verify that software downloaded to a gaming system is approved within a gaming jurisdiction. One aspect of the systems and methods includes a process for receiving approval for gaming software that is then made available for download onto gaming systems. A further aspect of the systems and methods includes the ability to audit and verify that software components that have been downloaded onto a gaming system are approved for use in a jurisdiction. The gaming configuration elements may include banner content, advertising content, denomination data, pay table, language data, video content, audio content, episodic game data, wagering game software, operating system software, device driver software and device firmware.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2006Publication date: January 29, 2009Inventors: Dale R. Buchholz, Mark B. Gagner, Craig J. Sylla, Jason A. Smith, Rory L. Block
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Patent number: 7479063Abstract: A gaming machine network includes a plurality of gaming machines and a central controller. Each gaming machine further includes an associated peripheral device electronically coupled to the gaming machine. The peripheral device includes an audio speaker system broadcasting an audio output to a player of the gaming machine. The central controller is electronically coupled to each of the plurality of gaming machines and sends audio instructions for controlling the audio outputs from the audio speaker systems within the peripheral devices. Alternatively, or in addition to the aforementioned operation, the central controller may receive audio instructions from the peripheral device associated with one of the gaming machines and the central controller further transmits the audio instructions to selected other ones of the plurality of gaming machines. The peripheral device may be, for example, a top box for the gaming machine or a contoured chair for the gaming machine.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2004Date of Patent: January 20, 2009Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Eric M. Pryzby, Rory L. Block
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Publication number: 20080235323Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus for transmitting content in wagering networks are described herein. In one embodiment, the method includes determining a first source for a first block of a wagering content file. The method can also include determining a second source for a second block of the wagering content file. The method can also include receiving the first block from the first source, receiving the second block from the second source, and using the first block and the second block to create a copy of the wagering content file.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2006Publication date: September 25, 2008Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventor: Rory L. Block
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Publication number: 20040266532Abstract: An event management service for a gaming network including one or more gaming machines provides systems and methods for sending and receiving event related messages. The events include tilts, jackpot wins, software corruption, etc. The gaming services framework comprises a set of services, protocols, XML schemas, and methods for providing gaming system functionality in a distributed, network based architecture that includes gaming machines and servers. The systems and methods provide a service-oriented framework for gaming and property management based upon internetworking technology and web services concepts.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2004Publication date: December 30, 2004Inventors: Christopher W. Blackburn, Rory L. Block, Chih-Hui Jan, James P. Simmermon, Thomas A. Gentles, Vikram Swamy, Terry D. Warkentin
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Publication number: 20040248645Abstract: An accounting service for a gaming network including gaming machines provides systems and methods for retrieving accounting information such as gaming machine meter information from gaming machines on the gaming network. The gaming services framework comprises a set of services, protocols, XML schemas, and methods for providing gaming system functionality in a distributed, network based architecture that includes gaming machines and servers. The systems and methods provide a service-oriented framework for gaming and property management based upon internetworking technology and web services concepts.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2004Publication date: December 9, 2004Inventors: Christopher W. Blackburn, Rory L. Block, Chih-Hui Jan, James P. Simmermon, Thomas A. Gentles, Vikram Swamy, Terry D. Warkentin
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Publication number: 20040243849Abstract: An authorization service for a gaming network including gaming machines provides systems and methods for authorizing access requests to resources on the gaming network by service providers and other entities on the gaming network. The gaming services framework comprises a set of services, protocols, XML schemas, and methods for providing gaming system functionality in a distributed, network based architecture that includes gaming machines and servers. The systems and methods provide a service-oriented framework for gaming and property management based upon internetworking technology and web services concepts.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventors: Christopher W. Blackburn, Rory L. Block, Thomas A. Gentles, Vikram Swamy, Terry D. Warkentin
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Publication number: 20040242330Abstract: A name service for a gaming network including gaming machines provides systems and methods for returning name bindings to entities on the gaming network. The gaming services framework comprises a set of services, protocols, XML schemas, and methods for providing gaming system functionality in a distributed, network based architecture that includes gaming machines and servers. The systems and methods provide a service-oriented framework for gaming and property management based upon internetworking technology and web services concepts.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventors: Christopher W. Blackburn, Rory L. Block, Thomas A. Gentles, Vikram Swamy, Terry D. Warkentin
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Publication number: 20040243848Abstract: An authentication service for a gaming network including gaming machines provides systems and methods for authenticating entities on the gaming network. The gaming services framework comprises a set of services, protocols, XML schemas, and methods for providing gaming system functionality in a distributed, network based architecture that includes gaming machines and servers. The systems and methods provide a service-oriented framework for gaming and property management based upon internetworking technology and web services concepts.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventors: Christopher W. Blackburn, Rory L. Block, Thomas A. Gentles, Vikram Swamy, Terry D. Warkentin
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Publication number: 20040242328Abstract: A boot service for a gaming network including gaming machines provides communications addresses, boot file names and configuration details for gaming machine as the boot on the gaming network. The gaming services framework comprises a set of services, protocols, XML schemas, and methods for providing gaming system functionality in a distributed, network based architecture that includes gaming machines and servers. The systems and methods provide a service-oriented framework for gaming and property management based upon internetworking technology and web services concepts.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventors: Christopher W. Blackburn, Rory L. Block, Thomas A. Gentles, Vikram Swamy, Terry D. Warkentin
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Publication number: 20040242331Abstract: A time service for a gaming network including gaming machines provides systems and methods for processing time related requests on the gaming network by service providers, gaming machines and other entities on the gaming network. The gaming services framework comprises a set of services, protocols, XML schemas, and methods for providing gaming system functionality in a distributed, network based architecture that includes gaming machines and servers. The systems and methods provide a service-oriented framework for gaming and property management based upon internetworking technology and web services concepts.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventors: Christopher W. Blackburn, Rory L. Block, Thomas A. Gentles, Vikram Swamy, Terry D. Warkentin
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Publication number: 20040242329Abstract: A gaming network includes a discovery service, gaming machines and services providers. The discovery service receives service information from the service providers and publishes the service information to gaming machines and other entities on the gaming network. The discovery service and service providers may be implemented as web services with a gaming services framework. The gaming services framework comprises a set of services, protocols, XML schemas, and methods for providing gaming system functionality in a distributed, network based architecture that includes gaming machines and servers. Systems and methods provide a service-oriented framework for gaming and property management based upon internetworking technology and web services concepts.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2004Publication date: December 2, 2004Inventors: Christopher W. Blackburn, Rory L. Block, Thomas A. Gentles, Vikram Swamy, Terry D. Warkentin
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Publication number: 20040235563Abstract: A gaming services framework comprises a set of services, protocols, XML schemas, and methods for providing gaming system functionality in a distributed, network based architecture. Systems and methods provide a service-oriented framework for gaming and property management based upon internetworking technology and web services concepts. One aspect of the systems and methods includes a game update service that operates to publish service details, receive registration requests from gaming machines and other clients, and provides game update services to the gaming machines and other clients.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2004Publication date: November 25, 2004Inventors: Christopher W. Blackburn, Rory L. Block, Thomas A. Gentles, Vikram Swamy, Terry D. Warkentin
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Publication number: 20040229699Abstract: A gaming services framework comprises a set of services, protocols, XML schemas, and methods for providing gaming system functionality in a distributed, network based architecture. Systems and methods provide a service-oriented framework for gaming and property management based upon internetworking technology and web services concepts. One aspect of the systems and methods includes a loosely coupled architecture that consists of software components that semantically encapsulate discrete functionality (self contained and perform a single function or a related group of functions—the component describes its own inputs and outputs in a way that other software can determine what it does, how to invoke its functionality, and what result to expect). These components may be distributed and programmatically accessible (called by and exchange data with other software) over standard internetworking protocols (TCP/IP, HITP, DNS, DHCP, etc.).Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2004Publication date: November 18, 2004Inventors: Thomas A. Gentles, Vikram Swamy, Christopher W. Blackburn, Rory L. Block, Terry D. Warkentin
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Publication number: 20040229684Abstract: A gaming services framework comprises a set of services, protocols, XML schemas, and methods for providing gaming system functionality in a distributed, network based architecture. Systems and methods provide a service-oriented framework for gaming and property management based upon internetworking technology and web services concepts. One aspect of the systems and methods includes a gaming management service that operates to publish service details, receive registration requests from gaming machines and other clients, and provides gaming management services to the gaming machines and other clients.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2004Publication date: November 18, 2004Inventors: Christopher W. Blackburn, Rory L. Block, Thomas A. Gentles, Vikram Swamy, Terry D. Warkentin