Patents Assigned to WMS Gaming Inc.
  • Patent number: 8968084
    Abstract: This description describes wagering game systems that process metadata. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a wagering game presentation unit configured to present wagering games and create extended metadata and wager gaming content. The apparatus can also include operating system modules configured to store the wager gaming content as a file in a file system and to store the extended metadata at locations associated with the file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Bytnar, Craig J. Sylla
  • Patent number: 8961292
    Abstract: A system for managing wagering game content is described herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a wagering game machine management server. The wagering game server can include a content controller configured to receive wagering game content and load the wagering game content onto a wagering game machine over the network. The wagering game server can also include a compatibility controller configured to determine whether the wagering game content is compatible with the wagering game machine. Additionally, the wagering game server can include a license controller configured to receive licensing information and to use the licensing information to activate the wagering game content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary M. Burke, Shridhar P. Joshi, Larry J. Pacey, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 8961295
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide power management on a wagering game machine. Inrush power may be reduced by staggering application of power to various power supplies in a wagering game machine. A processor or timer may control the activation of power supplies. Further power management may be provided by placing wagering game machine peripherals in a power consumption mode appropriate to the activity or lack of activity on a wagering game machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Charles R. Bleich, Michael J. Sosnoski
  • Patent number: 8961288
    Abstract: Some examples described include a system to perform operations that include detecting a request to present a wagering game via a browser application and providing wagering game content for the wagering game, wherein a wagering game toolbar of the browser application is configured to present the wagering game content. In some examples, the operations further include providing a wagering game result for the wagering game, wherein the wagering game toolbar is configured to present the wagering game result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Brian J. Barclay, Allon G. Englman, Andrew C. Guinn, Daniel P. Louie, Brian D. Manning, Larry J. Pacey, Richard T. Schwartz, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8961318
    Abstract: Techniques for sharing resources in wagering game systems are described herein. Some embodiments include a method comprising: detecting, by the wagering game machine, low processing capabilities of the wagering game machine. The method can include determining, based on the detecting low processing capabilities, that remote resources are needed for processing video content associated with a wagering game. The method can include requesting, via a network, the remote resources from the remote wagering game machine. The method can also include receiving, from the remote wagering game machine via the network, processed video content for the wagering game, and presenting, on a display device, the wagering game using the processed video content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Nevin J. Liber, Scott H. Schulhof, Jason A. Smith, Craig J. Sylla
  • Patent number: 8959459
    Abstract: A gaming system and a method for conducting a wagering game that allows accurate determination of a player gesture input. A gaming terminal for playing the wagering game including a controller is disclosed. A touch surface is provided for actuation by a player gesture associated with an input to the wagering game. A sensor array underlies the touch surface to sense the motion of the gesture. The sensor array is coupled to the controller. The controller determines a trajectory represented by the gesture based on the sensed motion from the sensor array. A display is coupled to the controller to display movement of an object image based on the trajectory represented by the gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Joel R. Jaffe, Timothy C. Loose
  • Patent number: 8956221
    Abstract: Described herein are processes and devices that authorize and manage wagering agents and associated accounts. One of the devices described is a wagering game system. The wagering game system can detecting a request from a first player account to utilize a shared wagering fund to wager on a wagering game. The shared wagering fund can be funded by a second player account. The wagering game system can make the shared wagering fund available to the first player account to wager on a wagering game. The wagering game system can determine a game award produced by the wagering game. The system can then allocate a portion of the game award to the second player account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Peter R. Anderson, Christopher R. Barney, Larry J. Pacey, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8956224
    Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a multi-player wagering game includes a multi-touch table surface that is touched by a handheld electronic wager input device (EWID) carried by a player for placing wagers on a wagering game displayed on the multi-touch table surface. Each EWID carried by a player has an associated unique identification code, which is linked to the respective player's account. Players indicate an amount to be wagered by touching the EWID to designated wager amount areas, then place the wager by touching the EWID to a designated wagering area. Because each EWID is uniquely associable with distinct player accounts, the gaming system can support any number of players placing wagers. The funds remain safe in the player account and no funds are stored on the EWID. Only the identification code is detected, which is compared with the associated player account before allowing that player to place wagers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Paul M. Lesley, Timothy C. Loose, Jim Motyl, James M. Rasmussen, Victor T. Shi, Alfred Thomas, Jesse Smith
  • Patent number: 8951114
    Abstract: A gaming system and method for conducting a wagering game includes a special event that is triggered by a progression through a plurality of subfeatures of the wagering game. The subfeatures are completed upon the collection of a predetermined number of items. The items collected are associated with wagering-game enhancement parameters that are applied to the wagering game in response to the items being randomly awarded during the wagering game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Joel R. Jaffe, Jamie W. Vann
  • Publication number: 20150038218
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a communication regarding account activity for a player account of a wagering game player. The player account is within a group of player accounts for the wagering game player, wherein the group of player accounts includes at least one of a player account for account-based wagering at a wagering game establishment, a player account for player tracking of player activity at the wagering game establishment, and a player account for online wagering. The method includes executing a rules-based response, after receiving the communication regarding account activity. Executing the rules-based response can comprise at least one of: transmitting a player notification to the wagering game player about the account activity, to at least one of the player accounts and transmitting an account lockdown communication instructing an account server to lockdown at least one of the player accounts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Christopher W. Blackburn, Scott A. Massing, John R. Werneke
  • Patent number: 8944916
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method includes: detecting a plurality of wagering game machines in proximity to the mobile phone, and selecting a first of the plurality of wagering game machines with which to establish a connection. The method can also include requesting the connection with the first of the plurality of wagering game machines, and transmitting, from the mobile phone to the first of the plurality of wagering game machines, player account information for configuring a wagering game. The method can also include receiving, from the first of the plurality of wagering game machines, content indicating a result of the wagering game, and presenting, on the mobile phone, the result of the wagering game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas S. Abouchar, Martin J. Biernat, Andrew C. Guinn, Damon E. Gura, Mahesh Lakshmanaperumal, Richard B. Robbins
  • Patent number: 8939841
    Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for conducting a wagering game having increased excitement and enjoyment over existing wagering games. The method and system involve a bank of wagering game terminals connected to a bank controller. Each wagering game terminal allows players to play a basic wagering game that is independent of other wagering game terminals. The wagering game terminals also allow players to play a bonus game where players take turns playing to win a portion of a jackpot. The portion awarded to each player may be the actual amount won by that player, or it may be a percentage of the entire jackpot based on the actual amount won by the player relative to other players. In one implementation, only players at wagering game terminals that exceed a minimum level of wagering activity may play the bonus game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Allon G. Englman, Mark Gagner, Michael W. Mastropietro, Paul McInerny, Larry J. Pacey
  • Patent number: 8932140
    Abstract: Club cards and tickets can be eliminated by providing an application that allows a player's mobile phone to process an image of an optical machine-readable representation of data. At the end of a wagering session on a WGM, the WGM can display a barcode representing a player's winnings, an achievement, game status, etc. The player takes a picture of the barcode with his or her mobile phone. The application on the phone processes the barcode image and automatically updates an account of the player in accordance with the data represented or carried by the barcode. For instance, the mobile phone sends a request to a wagering account server to electronically deposit the winnings, as represented by the barcode, in a wagering account associated with the player's club profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Timothy C. Loose, James M. Rasmussen, Victor T. Shi, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8926418
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include determining that a secondary wagering game application is compatible with a primary wagering game application, wherein compatibility is based in-part on an ability of the primary wagering game application to provide wagering game information to the secondary wagering game application via an application programming interface. The operations can also include enabling the secondary wagering game to present a secondary wagering game in connection with a primary wagering game controlled by the primary wagering game application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Michael J. Irby, II, Craig J. Sylla
  • Patent number: 8926424
    Abstract: A gaming system includes one or more controllers and one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the one or more controllers, cause the gaming system to initiate a wagering game to be played via a gaming machine and in response to a pause event, temporarily pause the wagering game-in-progress, prior to revealing a final outcome of the wagering game. While the game-in-progress is paused, the one or more controllers allow the gaming machine to participate in a community event along with a plurality of other gaming machines and in response to an end-pause event associated with the community event, reinstate the paused game-in-progress at the gaming machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Allon Englman, Michael G. Feeney
  • Patent number: 8926421
    Abstract: A multi-player gaming system sensing multiple simultaneous contacts on a surface of a gaming table, differentiating contacts by different players. Privacy controls selectively display private information visible to only one of the players on or near the display surface of the gaming table. The gaming system also detects physical objects placed on the surface of the gaming table, causing wagering game functions or peripheral functions to be performed as a result of the placement of the object on the display surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir I. Arezina, Gilbert J. Q. Burak, Mark B. Gagner, Benjamin T. Gomez, Joel R. Jaffe, James V. Palermo, James M. Rasmussen, Gene Rigsby, Richard T. Schwartz, Craig J. Sylla, Alfred Thomas, Timothy C. Loose
  • Patent number: 8926422
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include receiving, at a wagering game server, a request from a mobile device to play a wagering game via a selected wagering game machine among a plurality of wagering game machines on the wagering game network. The operations can also include associating the mobile device with the selected wagering game machine, wherein the associating allows receipt of input for the wagering game from the mobile device. The operations can also include receiving, via the wagering game network, commands resulting from inputs accepted by the mobile device. The operations can also include determining a result of the wagering game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Randy S. Demsetz, Mark B. Gagner, Paul M. Lesley, Timothy C. Loose, Scott A. Massing, Craig J. Sylla
  • Patent number: 8924525
    Abstract: Method, apparatus, and system of powering gaming machine devices over an Ethernet connection. A Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) connection point communicates with and powers a PoE device performing operations for a wagering game presented on the gaming machine. The PoE connection point and PoE device are powered by a different power source than the gaming machine and continue operating and communicating after the gaming machine power source fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Canterbury, Victor Mercado
  • Patent number: 8912727
    Abstract: In a wagering game environment, a light engine can determine a number of lighting devices that constitute a light chain, and a chaining configuration. The light chain is associated with a wagering game machine. The light engine can determine attributes of the constituent lighting devices and compute timing to produce the light effect. In accordance with the determined attributes and computed timing, the light engine generates output lighting device commands for controlling the lighting devices and/or light source elements of the constituent lighting devices. The light engine can dynamically handle a variation in the number or chaining configuration of the lighting devices that constitute the light at runtime. Accordingly, the light engine can generate appropriate output lighting device commands to display the appropriate light effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward G. Brunell, Paul J. Radek
  • Patent number: 8911294
    Abstract: Wagering game systems can leverage web browsers to present wagering game content with a variety of technologies. For instance, an electronic wagering game table can present diverse wagering game content (e.g., multiple wagering games, portal games, social networking applets, hospitality menus, etc.) with a variety of technologies that interface with a we browser. Also, a single wagering game can be constructed from multiple technologies. A wagering game system can implement a framework that dynamically builds up a web page to use multiple technologies for presenting content with a web browser on a wagering game system. The framework can dynamically construct the web page, which can involve modifying objects, embedding objects, removing objects, and replacing objects that correspond to different technologies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan D. Antkowiak, Daniel J. Gazdic, Damon E. Gura, Budyanto Himawan, Audrey F. Y. Ho, Jeffrey M. Leverenz