Patents Assigned to WMS Gaming
  • Patent number: 8821267
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include presenting wagering game content during a wagering game session via a wagering game machine, where the wagering game session is for a first player account. The operations can further include detecting an amount of money spent on gambling via the first player account during a time period. The operations can further include determining that a second player account, associated with the first player account, is configured to authorize presentation of an indication of the amount of money spent on gambling during the time period. The operations can further include presenting the indication of the amount of money spent during the time period in response to the determining that the second player account is configured to authorize presentation of the indication of the amount of money spent on gambling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay K. Agarwal, Mary M. Burke, Elias R. Maskaleris
  • Patent number: 8821249
    Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game comprising a value input device for receiving a wager, a display for displaying a plurality of selection groups, and a processor coupled to the display. Each selection group includes a plurality of selectable elements. The processor is operative to alternately select the elements in the selection groups until encountering an end-feature condition, and provide awards associated with the selected elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin T. Gomez
  • Patent number: 8821265
    Abstract: A method of operating a wagering game comprises receiving a primary wager, displaying a randomly selected outcome of a primary wagering game, and displaying at least one progressive jackpot. A first portion of the primary wager is allocated to fund the at least one progressive jackpot. An increment amount to be added to the at least one progressive jackpot is randomly determined, the at least one progressive jackpot is incremented by the increment amount, and in response to a triggering event, the at least one progressive jackpot is awarded. Alternatively, a random determination is made whether to increase the at least one progressive jackpot by a predetermined increment amount and, in response to a determination to increase the at least one progressive jackpot, the at least one progressive jackpot is incremented by the predetermined increment amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Allon G. Englman, Robert L. Kyte, Michael W. Mastropietro
  • Patent number: 8821244
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include detecting a winning event during a wager cycle of a wagering game played during a wagering game session. In some embodiments, the operations further include presenting a congratulatory gaming effect in response to the winning event and extending presentation of the congratulatory gaming effect for a duration after the wager cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Detlefsen, Michael V. Dicillo
  • Patent number: 8821278
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a first gaming device displaying a first primary wagering game in response to receipt of a first wager from a first player and a second gaming device displaying a second primary wagering game in response to receipt of a second wager from a second player. The system further comprises a community display having a plurality of display regions thereon, and at least one controller operative to (i) detect activation of a first supplemental feature by the first player, (ii) detect activation of a second supplemental feature by the second player, (iii) determine in which of the plurality of display regions to display the first and second supplemental features in accordance with at least a first rule set, and (iv) display the first and second supplemental features on the community display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Craig J. Sylla, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 8821283
    Abstract: In a wagering game machine, operations and systems are disclosed for ending wagering game audio in a key of the current state. In one embodiment, the use of markers to denote the state of a music file enables following the continuous music and ending wagering game bang-up audio in whatever key the continuous music is in at the precise moment the bang-up ends. The continuous music, bang-ups and marker file are all started at the same time and may be the same length. The continuous music is audible, the bang-ups are heard by raising the volume when programmatically called for, and the marker file continuously sends out signals at a set rate which the code then interprets to determine the state of the song to trigger the appropriate musical ending. When the bang-up ends it can then be played in the key corresponding to the current state of the music.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael V. Dicillo, Howard R. Pfeifer
  • Patent number: 8821253
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to determine that a second resource is available to be shared in place of a first resource located in a first wagering game machine operable to receive a wager associated with a wagering game. The second resource may be located apart from the first wagering game, perhaps in a second wagering game machine, or in a wagering game server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Chad A. Ryan, Charles R. Bleich
  • Publication number: 20140243065
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a computer-implemented method includes permitting a plurality of wagering game terminals to participate in a community game in a land-based gaming establishment. The method includes permitting a player device remote from the land-based gaming establishment to play an online game. The method also includes modifying, by at least one of one or more processors, the community game based on an event in the online game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Tracey L. Wright, Dion K. Aoki, Andrew C. Guinn, Joel R. Jaffe, Robert L. Kyte, Bradley D. Schultz
  • Publication number: 20140243099
    Abstract: Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of configuring gaming devices, and computer programs for configuring gaming devices are featured. A gaming machine is disclosed for communicatively coupling to peer gaming machines via a peer-to-peer network. The gaming machine includes a display device(s), a processor(s), and a memory device(s) storing instructions that cause the gaming machine to: store a first set of data indicative of the gaming machine's configuration parameters and a second set of data indicative of the gaming machine's performance; receive from one or more peer gaming machines a third set of data indicative of the peer gaming machine's(s?) configuration parameters and a fourth set of data indicative of the peer gaming machine's(s?) performance; analyze the third and fourth data sets to determine modifications to the gaming machine's configuration parameters to improve machine performance; and, automatically modify at least one configuration parameter of the gaming machine based upon the analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Vernon W. Hamlin, Craig J. Sylla, Paul A. Quaglia, Scot W. Salzman, Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Mark C. Pace
  • Patent number: 8814683
    Abstract: A method of utilizing a player's movements in association with a wagering game event, includes sensing a player's movements using a movement sensing device, storing a representation of the player's movements in non-transient computer-readable storage media in association with player-identifying information, associating the representation of the player's movements with the wagering game event in the storage media, and replaying the representation of the player's movements on one or more display devices operatively associated with a wagering game machine responsive to an occurrence of the wagering game event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Evan Hollander, Joel Jaffe, Jesse Smith, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 8818846
    Abstract: A gaming system includes at least one gaming server having at least one processor and at least one memory device storing instructions. The instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one gaming server to assign one or more unique identifiers to a registrant, monitor for web activity associated with the one or more unique identifiers and initiated by the registrant, measure an effect of the web activity, and convert the measured effect into a gaming incentive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Robbins, Jeff D. Fleyshman, Joel Jaffe, Andrew Guinn, Daniel Louie
  • Patent number: 8814657
    Abstract: A gaming machine for playing a wagering game includes a display and a controller. The display displays a plurality of spinning reels that stop to indicate a randomly selected outcome of a plurality of outcomes in response to accepting a wager input from a player. The controller is in communication with the display and is operative to conduct the wagering game in accordance with a basic set of gaming rules. The controller is further operative to cause a modification to a gaming rule of the basic set of gaming rules and to indicate the modification to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Allon G. Englman, Joel R. Jaffe, Jeremy M. Hornik, Larry J. Pacey
  • Patent number: 8814673
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter include operations for presenting a lighting show in a wagering game system. The operations can include receiving, over a first network, a playlist identifier that identifies a playlist, where the playlist is associated with a first group of lighting commands for presenting lighting effects on lighting devices in the wagering game system. The operations can also include generating the first group of lighting commands, and receiving, over the first network, a second group of lighting commands for presenting the lighting effects on the lighting devices in the wagering game system. The operations can also include generating, based on the first and second groups of lighting commands, instructions specific to the lighting devices, and transmitting, over a second network, the instructions for execution by one or more lighting controllers connected to the lighting devices, wherein the execution causes the lighting effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward G. Brunell, Paul J. Radek
  • Patent number: 8814667
    Abstract: A gaming system includes an input device for receiving wagers to lay a wagering game in which the player is eligible to win first and second progressive award levels. At least one display device is configured to display a monetary value for the first progressive award level and a number of free spins for the second progressive award level. The gaming system includes two sets of reels, each set being associated with a respective mathematical model. A controller increments the monetary value and the number of free spins based on plays of the wagering game, and awards current values of the monetary value and the number of free spins in response to respective triggering events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Caspers, Peter R. Hopkins
  • Publication number: 20140235327
    Abstract: A gaming system includes features to relay sensitive information to a player while keeping the sensitive information private from non-players. According to one aspect the gaming system comprises one or more input devices, one or more display devices for displaying a wagering game including sensitive and non-sensitive information, one or more processors, and one or more memory devices. The memory devices store instructions that cause the gaming system to display a plurality of images. The displayed images do not include the sensitive information. The instructions also cause the gaming system to provide an interactive feature configured to receive a predetermined user interaction via at least one of the one or more input devices. The instructions further cause the gaming system to display, in response to the predetermined user interaction with the interactive feature, a plurality of images, the displayed images including the sensitive information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Mary M. Burke, Jacob C. Greenberg, Jordan M. Martone
  • Publication number: 20140235332
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are one or more examples of generating a communication directed to a contact of a wagering game player account. In some embodiments, a gaming system can perform operations to determine an identity of an individual located within a given physical location and present, on a display device, a virtual identifier associated with the contact. The individual is indicated as a contact in a wagering game player account. The display device is associated with the wagering game player account. The gaming system can further perform an operation to detect a user input related to the virtual identifier presented on the display device. Further, the gaming system can perform an operation to send a communication to a device associated with the contact in response to detecting the user input.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Rory L. Block, Jacob C. Greenberg, Vernon W. Hamlin, Laurie E. Lasseter, Craig J. Sylla, Mark K. Trego
  • Patent number: 8808088
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes receiving, at a first media controller in the wagering game system, a playlist identifier that identifies a playlist, wherein the playlist is associated with scripts that, when executed, present media effects of the coordinated media show. The method can also include presenting, by the first media controller, a first of the media effects by executing a first of the scripts associated with the playlist, and detecting an indication to wait for a synchronization marker from a second media controller. The method can also include receiving, over a multi-drop network, the synchronization marker from the second media controller, and selecting a second of the scripts associated with the playlist, after receiving the synchronization marker. The method can also include presenting, by the first media controller, a second of the media effects by executing the second of the scripts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward G. Brunell, Paul J. Radek
  • Publication number: 20140228086
    Abstract: Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting wagering games, and computer programs for executing wagering games are disclosed. A gaming system for playing a wagering game is disclosed which includes one or more processors and one or more memory devices storing instructions that, when executed by at least one of the processors, cause the gaming system to: receive a wager to play the wagering game; direct a display device to display a randomly determined outcome of a base game of the wagering game; in response to a triggering event, initiate play of a non-skill-based game feature and, further in response to receiving a player selection of a skill-based game feature, initiate play of the skill-based game feature; determine an award value for the skill-based game feature; determine an award value for the non-skill-based game feature; and, award to the player only the higher of the two award values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Jesse Smith, Joel R. Jaffe, Sean P. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20140228122
    Abstract: “A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include determining a classification of a first sound provided by a first wagering game application for presentation via one or more output devices of a wagering game machine. Further, a second wagering game application provides a second sound for concurrent presentation via the one or more output devices. The first wagering game application is independent from the second wagering game application. In some embodiments, the operations further include determining a prioritized relationship between the first sound and the second sound based on the classification, and controlling presentation of the first sound and the second sound via the one or more output devices according to the prioritized relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Berry, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Eric M. Pryzby, Paul J. Radek, Charles A. Richards, Steven J. Zoloto
  • Publication number: 20140228110
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for authenticating content in wagering game machines are described herein. In one embodiment, the computer-implemented method includes authenticating a first set of wagering game files stored on a storage device of a wagering game machine. The method can also include starting a wagering game on the wagering game machine if the authentication of the first set of wagering game files is successful. The method can also include authenticating, during the wagering game, a second set of wagering game files stored on the storage device of the wagering game machine, wherein the first set of wagering game files and the second set of wagering game files are mutually exclusive. The method can also include stopping the wagering game if the authentication of the second set of wagering game files is not successful.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Peter R. Anderson, Steven M. Campbell, Mark B. Gagner, William Hoefferle, Mark C. Pace, Chad A. Ryan, Craig J. Sylla