Patents by Inventor Scott A. Massing
Scott A. Massing 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: 9542797Abstract: A gaming system includes a handheld device coupled to a fixed structure. The handheld device includes a sensor configured to detect inputs. The handheld device is positionable in a base predefined zone and a first predefined zone. The base predefined zone is defined as a base volumetric space and the first predefined zone is defined as a first volumetric space. A memory device stores instructions that, when executed, by at least one of one or more processors of the gaming system, cause the gaming system to (i) detect a first input from the handheld device, (ii) perform a first function in response to the first input being detected in the base predefined zone, and (iii) perform a second function in response to the first input being detected in the first predefined zone, the second function being different from the first function.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2013Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: David E. Detlefsen, Mark B. Gagner, Paul M. Lesley, Timothy C. Loose, Scott A. Massing, Larry J. Pacey, Craig J. Sylla, Matthew J. Ward
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Patent number: 9536374Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations can include presenting wagering game content for a casino wagering game to have a two-dimensional appearance via an autostereoscopic display device. The operations can further include detecting an indication to change a presentation of the two-dimensional appearance without stereoscopic depth to have a stereoscopic three-dimensional appearance having stereoscopic depth. The operations can further include detecting a game condition for the casino wagering game, determining a degree of stereoscopic three-dimensional depth to use for the wagering game content based on a value for the game condition, and changing the presentation of the two-dimensional appearance to the stereoscopic three-dimensional appearance in response to determining the degree of the stereoscopic three-dimensional depth to use.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2015Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.Inventors: Brian D. Manning, Scott A. Massing, Alfred Thomas
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Publication number: 20160343194Abstract: A wagering game system configured to perform operations to transmit to a mobile device, via a wireless communication device of the gaming system, an offer for presentation via the mobile device in response to detecting that the mobile device is located at a casino. The offer is associated with a wagering game machine within the casino. The operations can further include detecting, via an electronic tracking device associated with the wagering game machine, an electronic identifier provided from the mobile device. For instance, the mobile device can provide the electronic identifier to the wagering game machine. The operations can further include associating, via an electronic processing unit of the gaming system, the offer with the wagering game machine in response to detecting the electronic identifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 4, 2016Publication date: November 24, 2016Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Scott A. Massing, Brian P. Moyles, Larry J. Pacey, Matthew J. Ward
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Patent number: 9472049Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include determining that a mobile device, associated with a player, is brought to a casino. The mobile device runs an application that may have been downloaded and installed on the mobile device prior to the mobile device being brought to the casino. The operations can further include generating an offer to perform an activity within the casino. The award is attainable via performance of the activity. The operations can include providing information about the offer to the mobile device. The mobile device presents the offer via the application. The application can specify the award and the activity to perform. The operations can further include detecting performance of the activity via player input via one or more wagering game machines within the casino, and providing the award in response to the performance of the activity.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2012Date of Patent: October 18, 2016Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Scott A. Massing, Brian P. Moyles, Larry J. Pacey, Matthew J. Ward
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Patent number: 9421454Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include monitoring gaming-related events at a wagering game machine of the wagering game system to detect a promotion trigger event. The operations can also include determining information associated with the promotion trigger event, and providing the information associated with the promotion trigger event to a promotional content server of the wagering game system to cause the promotional content server to select promotional content based, at least in part, on the information associated with the promotion trigger event. The operations can further include receiving the promotional content from promotional content server in response to said providing the information associated with the promotion trigger event to the promotional content server, and presenting the promotional content at the wagering game machine.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2015Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.Inventors: Edward G. Brunell, Mark B. Gagner, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Scott A. Massing, Charles A. Richards, Craig J. Sylla
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Patent number: 9342948Abstract: Some embodiments include a method for conducting a multi-player wagering game. The method can include determining, by at least on processor, a head position of a player of the multi-player wagering game. The method can also include determining, based on the head position, a viewable portion of a virtual object used in the multi-player wagering game, and causing presentation of the viewable portion of the virtual object.Type: GrantFiled: March 8, 2013Date of Patent: May 17, 2016Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Sean P. Kelly, Scott A. Massing, Pamela S. Smith, Jamie W. Vann
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Publication number: 20160110949Abstract: A gaming system and its operations include, for example presenting, via an autostereoscopic display device, symbols for an electronic wagering game, determining a game event value for a game event for the wagering game, determining a first symbol significance value for a first set of the symbols based on the game event value, and determining a second symbol significance value for a second set of the symbols based on the game event value. The operations can further include presenting, via the autostereoscopic display device, the first set of the symbols with a first autostereoscopic three-dimensional depth value corresponding to the first symbol significance value. The operations can further include presenting, via the autostereoscopic display device, the second set of the symbols with a second autostereoscopic three-dimensional depth value corresponding to the second symbol significance value.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Shawn C. Collette, David E. Detlefsen, Joel R. Jaffe, Sean P. Kelly, Timothy C. Loose, Scott A. Massing
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Publication number: 20160110948Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations include, for example, detecting, by at least one of one or more electronic processing units of the wagering game system, a first game condition in a wagering game presented via an autostereoscopic display device of the wagering game system. The wagering game includes game symbols used for presentation of wagering game outcomes for the wagering game. The operations can further include determining, based on the first game condition, a first significance level from a plurality of significance levels associated with a first of the game symbols.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Shawn C. Collette, David E. Detlefsen, Joel R. Jaffe, Sean P. Kelly, Timothy C. Loose, Scott A. Massing
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Publication number: 20160110950Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations include, for example, presenting, via an autostereoscopic three-dimensional display of the wagering game system, wagering game content with an autostereoscopic three-dimensional depth effect. The wagering game content is associated with an electronic wagering game. The operations can further include detecting, via a sensor of the wagering game system, a change in a position of a slider control associated with the wagering game system. The operations can further include changing, via at least one of one or more electronic processing units of the wagering game system, a degree of the autostereoscopic three-dimensional depth effect for at least a portion of the wagering game content according to a degree of the change in the position of the slider control.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Shawn C. Collette, David E. Detlefsen, Joel R. Jaffe, Sean P. Kelly, Timothy C. Loose, Scott A. Massing
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Patent number: 9308439Abstract: Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter are directed to presenting wagering game content in stereoscopic 3D according to an optimal autostereoscopic view for an autostereoscopic display based on a viewing perspective of a player when the player views the wagering game content. Some embodiments are also directed to determining that the player looks away from the wagering game content and maintaining, or freezing, presentation of wagering game content in 3D according to the optimal autostereoscopic view. Some embodiments are directed to updating the optimal autostereoscopic view based on changes to the viewing perspective while the player looks away from the wagering game content. Some embodiment are also directed to changing the presentation of the wagering game content to 2D, and restoring the one or more portions to 3D based on a degree of player attentiveness after the player looks at the wagering game content again.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2013Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Mark B. Gagner, Sean P. Kelly, Scott A. Massing, Jamie W. Vann
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Patent number: 9292997Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include presenting wagering game content via an autostereoscopic display of a wagering game machine. The operations can further include determining a degree change in a position of a chair connected to the wagering game machine. In some examples, the change in the position occurs in accordance with an event from the wagering game content. The operations can further include altering an autostereoscopic presentation of the wagering game content proportional to the change in the position of the chair.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2014Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Timothy T. Gronkowski, John F. LaSalvia, Timothy C. Loose, Scott A. Massing, Craig J. Sylla
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Publication number: 20160042589Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations can include presenting wagering game content for a casino wagering game to have a two-dimensional appearance via an autostereoscopic display device. The operations can further include detecting an indication to change a presentation of the two-dimensional appearance without stereoscopic depth to have a stereoscopic three-dimensional appearance having stereoscopic depth. The operations can further include detecting a game condition for the casino wagering game, determining a degree of stereoscopic three-dimensional depth to use for the wagering game content based on a value for the game condition, and changing the presentation of the two-dimensional appearance to the stereoscopic three-dimensional appearance in response to determining the degree of the stereoscopic three-dimensional depth to use.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 22, 2015Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: Brian D. Manning, Scott A. Massing, Alfred Thomas
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Patent number: 9208639Abstract: A system includes a community screen configured to display images of a community event thereon. The system includes a number of wagering game machines coupled to the community screen. The system also includes a number of handheld devices, wherein each handheld device has a respective display and is associated with a respective one of the wagering game machines. The system includes an image module configured, for at least one handheld device of the number of handheld devices, to identify a location on the community screen based on a position of the at least one handheld device and to present an image on the display of the at least one handheld device based on the location.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Benjamin T. Gomez, Sean P. Kelly, Timothy C. Loose, Scott A. Massing, Pamela S. Smith
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Patent number: 9189918Abstract: An apparatus includes a wagering game table having a sensory area configured to recognize a touch of a wagering game player and to create player touch data in response to the touch of the player. The wagering game table includes an input device configured to receive identification data that provides identification of the wagering game player. The apparatus includes a camera configured to capture an image during a time of the touch of the wagering game player at the sensory area of the wagering game table. The image comprising an image of at least part of the sensory area of the wagering game table and an image of at least part of the player. The apparatus includes an authentication module configured to define an association of the identification of the wagering game player with the at least one image of the at least part of the player.Type: GrantFiled: May 16, 2012Date of Patent: November 17, 2015Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Timothy T. Gronkowski, Timothy C. Loose, Scott A. Massing, Victor T. Shi
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Patent number: 9168454Abstract: In some embodiments, the operations can include detecting a first indication to toggle a presentation of wagering game content from a two-dimensional mode to a three-dimensional mode and toggling the three-dimensional mode in response to detecting the first indication. In some embodiments, the operations can further include automatically toggling the presentation of the wagering game content back to the two-dimensional mode in response to detecting a second indication. In some embodiments, the operations can further include detecting a condition that specifies a degree of three-dimensional presentation to enable for the three-dimensional mode and presenting the wagering game content with the degree of three-dimensional presentation. In some embodiments, the operations can further include detecting a change to the condition and automatically adjusting the degree of the three-dimensional presentation based on the change to the condition.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2011Date of Patent: October 27, 2015Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Brian D. Manning, Scott A. Massing, Alfred Thomas
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Patent number: 9126106Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include monitoring gaming-related events at a wagering game machine of the wagering game system to detect a promotion trigger event. The operations can also include determining information associated with the promotion trigger event, and providing the information associated with the promotion trigger event to a promotional content server of the wagering game system to cause the promotional content server to select promotional content based, at least in part, on the information associated with the promotion trigger event. The operations can further include receiving the promotional content from promotional content server in response to said providing the information associated with the promotion trigger event to the promotional content server, and presenting the promotional content at the wagering game machine.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2011Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Edward G. Brunell, Mark B. Gagner, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Scott A. Massing, Charles A. Richards, Craig J. Sylla
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Publication number: 20150228157Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include monitoring gaming-related events at a wagering game machine of the wagering game system to detect a promotion trigger event. The operations can also include determining information associated with the promotion trigger event, and providing the information associated with the promotion trigger event to a promotional content server of the wagering game system to cause the promotional content server to select promotional content based, at least in part, on the information associated with the promotion trigger event. The operations can further include receiving the promotional content from promotional content server in response to said providing the information associated with the promotion trigger event to the promotional content server, and presenting the promotional content at the wagering game machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2015Publication date: August 13, 2015Inventors: Edward G. Brunell, Mark B. Gagner, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Scott A. Massing, Charles A. Richards, Craig J. Sylla
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Patent number: 9086732Abstract: “Fusion” gestures that transition from air to surface or surface to air and interactions with graphical objects displayed on one or more display devices. Surface-to-air gestures are captured on a surface of a touch-based sensing device, and the gesture leaves the surface and enters a volumetric space adjacent to the surface, where a 3D gesture sensing system captures the gesture in 3D space. One or more objects displayed on the display device(s) are graphically shown to be manipulated by the gesture. Air-to-surface gestures are captured in the reverse manner. Different devices housed in separate housings can detect the different types of gestures. For example, a gaming terminal can detect surface gestures made on a single- or multi-touch sensitive surface while a portable electronic device in communication with the gaming terminal can detect air gestures made in a volumetric space in front of the gaming terminal.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2013Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Sean Kelly, Scott A. Massing, Larry J. Pacey, Jesse Smith, Muthu Velu
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Patent number: 9056244Abstract: A gaming apparatus includes a processor, a display device with a video display and a touchscreen, and a bezel adjacent to the display device which has regions capable of providing haptic feedback. The haptic feedback can be provided to a specific region of the bezel as well as a transparent overlay which is positioned over a button on the touchscreen. The apparatus may have sensors allowing for haptic feedback to be targeted based on data detected by the sensors. Additionally, virtual input buttons can be displayed and repositioned on the touchscreen in response to sensor data.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2013Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: WMS GAMING INC.Inventors: Paul M. Lesley, Timothy C. Loose, Scott A. Massing, Jamie W. Vann
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Patent number: 9050527Abstract: A wand-shaped handheld device tethered to a fixed structure in a gaming system by one or more cables wound around reels. The handheld device includes a button on a top thereof as a secondary input means. Motors coupled to the reels wind the cables or apply an opposing force to a pulling force applied to the device. Sensors detect how far the cables are retracted or pulled relative to the fixed structure. Haptic feedback devices impart tactile vibrations that are transmitted along the cable(s) and to the handheld device as the motor is pulling the handheld device toward the fixed structure or a player grasping the device is pulling it away from the fixed structure. Wagering game graphics are coordinated with the movement of the device so that movements or selection of the graphics are affected by inputs made by moving the handheld device or pressing its button.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2013Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Timothy C. Loose, Christopher W. Chudek, Scott A. Massing, Jesse Smith, Walter E. Smolucha, Craig J. Sylla, Jamie W. Vann