Patents Assigned to WMS Gaming
  • Patent number: 8435122
    Abstract: Systems and methods for wagering on game outcomes allow a player to wager on game outcomes resulting from linked gaming devices linked to a primary gaming device being played by the player. A primary game display shows game plays and outcomes and allows wagering on a primary game and a linked game display shows game plays and outcomes and allows wagering on linked games. Both the primary and linked gaming devices may be the same type of gaming device, or they may be two different types of gaming devices, such as gaming devices for playing slot games, card games, keno, and the like. Further, either or both of the primary and linked games may allow bonus game outcomes resulting in a bonus game having bonus game awards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy M. Hornik, Larry J. Pacey
  • Patent number: 8430741
    Abstract: Described herein are processes and devices that present wagering game content in multiple windows. One of the devices described is a wagering game system. The wagering game system can receive wagering game content and control information from more than one content provider. The wagering game system can present the content from the various content providers in one or more windows, such as by presenting content from one provider in a main window while presenting content from a second provider in one or more auxiliary windows. The wagering game system can also determine priority information for content displayed in the windows and control the appearance and actions of the windows, or content displayed within the windows, based on the priority information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay K. Agarwal, Dale R. Buchholz, Mary M. Burke, Timothy F. Dinovo, Magesh Gangadharan, Jacek A. Grabiec, James S. Halprin, Mark C. Pace, Jacqueline F. Parra, David M. Pryor, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 8430405
    Abstract: Electronic wagering game tables (a.k.a. e-tables) are described herein. Some embodiments include a wagering game table for presenting a wagering game. The wagering game table can include a projection surface, and a first projector configured to present, at a first resolution, a first background image on the projection surface, wherein the first background image is associated with the wagering game and includes elements of the wagering game that are shared by the plurality of players, and wherein the first background image includes blank areas that are not substantially illuminated with content from the first projector. The wagering game table can also include a plurality other projectors configured to present, at a second resolution, wagering game content in the plurality of blank areas, wherein the wagering game content indicates results of the wagering game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Timothy C. Loose, James M. Rasmussen, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8430745
    Abstract: In some embodiments a method includes receiving, from a mobile phone, a request to transfer a first fund amount from a player account to a wagering game machine. The method can also include determining that the player account does not include the first fund amount; receiving a second fund amount from a secondary funding source, and augmenting the player account by the second fund amount, wherein the augmenting results in the player account including the first fund amount. The method can also include transferring the first fund amount from the player account to the wagering game machine; debiting the player account by the first fund amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay K. Agarwal, Dale R. Buchholz, Mark C. Pace
  • Patent number: 8425323
    Abstract: Method and system are disclosed for operating a wagering game terminal where players are allowed to transfer game assets that they may have accumulated to other players. The game assets may be transferred as part of an on-line auction won by one of the other players, as a gift to a preselected player, or as part of a trade with a preselected player. Neither the transferring player nor the receiving player is required to be present at a wagering game terminal at the time of the transfer. The transfer may be an anonymous transfer or it may be an identity-based transfer. For identity-based transfers, a predefined list of selected players may be used to facilitate the transfers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel P. Fiden, Lisa M. Helfer, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 8425290
    Abstract: A wagering game developer can use an online wagering game community to gauge popularity of wagering games, demonstrate wagering games, test wagering games, estimate wagering game life cycles, etc. Moreover, the wagering game developer can use the creativity of community members to modify and, perhaps, develop wagering games. The wagering game developer can decompose different aspects of a wagering game into executable code units that are platform independent, reusable, and/or configurable (“wagering game widgets”). Users combine wagering game widgets, whether derived from a wagering game or user generated, to create a wagering game for playing in the online wagering game community. Wagering game developers can reward users who create the most popular wagering games, and develop proper versions of these user-created wagering games for deployment in wagering game establishments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Damon E. Gura
  • Patent number: 8425318
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can determine different objects and/or portions within a wagering game video image and split the wagering game video image into multiple video streams containing different parts of the wagering game video image. The operations can then present the multiple video streams on multiple displays. The multiple displays can show the different parts of the wagering game video image appearing as separate and distinct video images. In some embodiments, some of the multiple displays can be placed in front of other displays. The operations can generate transparent masks that allow images to be seen through a display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Canterbury, Timothy C. Loose, Victor Mercado, James M. Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8425304
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a wager input device for receiving a primary wager and a display for displaying a primary wagering game. The gaming system further comprises a controller which is operative to (i) detect receipt of the primary wager, (ii) display a randomly selected outcome of the primary wagering game, (iii) display a feature icon on the display, (iv) detect selection of the feature icon, (v) in response to the selection of the feature icon, display a feature menu on the display, the feature menu displaying a plurality of available features capable of activation in addition to the wagering game, and (vi) in response to a first feature of the feature menu being selected, activate and display the first feature if a first eligibility requirement is satisfied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Jeremie D. Moll, Darren Ng, Tracey Wright
  • Publication number: 20130095907
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a wager input device for receiving a wager and a display for displaying a wagering game having a plurality of reels comprised of a plurality of symbols. A controller operates to (i) detect receipt of the wager; (ii) activate a play of the wagering game by spinning the reels on the display; (iii) display at least one play enhancement icon on the display; (iv) cause the spinning reels to stop and the display to display a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game; and (v) enhance the randomly selected outcome of the wagering game in response to the at least one play enhancement icon on the display at any time including at least one of before spinning the reels on the display, during spinning the reels on the display, and after spinning the reels on the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: WMS Gaming Inc.
  • Publication number: 20130095914
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include determining that a wagering game system account associated with a player should be awarded a system-wide game modifier based on the players system-wide gaming activity. The operations can also include determining when the player selects each wagering game of a plurality of wagering games selected by the player for play via the wagering game system. The operations can further include, for each wagering game of the plurality of wagering games selected by the player via the wagering game system, determining that the wagering game system account associated with the player has been awarded the system-wide game modifier, and modifying the wagering game based on predefined game modification specifications associated with the wagering game and the system-wide game modifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Sudhir Bejawada, Thor E. Perplies
  • Publication number: 20130095905
    Abstract: Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of conducting wagering games, and computer programs for executing wagering games are presented herein. A gaming system for conducting a wagering game is disclosed which includes a display device, a processor, and a memory device. The memory device stores instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to operate with the display device to: determine an outcome of the wagering game, the wagering-game outcome being randomly determined from a plurality of wagering-game outcomes; display, in an array located at a first position on the display device, a plurality of symbols indicative of the wagering-game outcome; determine a value associated with the wagering-game outcome; move the array from the first position to a second position on the display device; and modify the value of the wagering-game outcome based upon one or more modifiers achieved due to movement of the array to the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventor: WMS Gaming Inc.
  • Patent number: 8419527
    Abstract: A wagering game account management system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations include determining that a trigger condition for an account rule has occurred, wherein the account rule specifies an account action to be performed upon satisfaction of the trigger condition, and wherein the account action is associated with a wagering game account and other financial accounts. In some embodiments, the operations also include initiating the account actions and indicating a result of the account actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Jacek A. Grabiec, Damon E. Gura, Erhard W. Rathsack, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8419547
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include receiving a packet of gaming data. The packet includes data units and exclusive-OR check bytes. The data units and exclusive-OR check bytes are organized in the packet to correspond to vectors (e.g., columns and rows) of a matrix. Each of the exclusive-OR check bytes represent a result of a logical exclusive disjunction operation on a sequence of the data units contained in each of the vectors. The operations can further include detecting that some of the data units have data corruption and selecting one of the exclusive-OR check bytes that corresponds to one of the vectors. The one of the vectors includes only one corrupted data unit. The operations can further include recovering the one corrupted data unit using the one of the exclusive-OR check bytes that corresponds to the one of the vectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul J. Radek
  • Patent number: 8419519
    Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes an input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game. The gaming system further includes a primary display (14) for displaying a first array of symbols (173) that indicates a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. The gaming system further includes a secondary display (16) for displaying a secondary array of symbols (181) that indicates a secondary outcome of the wagering game. In response to a predetermined criterion, at least one winning symbol (175a, 175c) is moved from a first position in the first array to a second position in the secondary array to create a modified secondary array that indicates a winning outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Dion K Aoki, Allon G. Englman, Joel R. Jaffe, Shridhar P. Joshi, Larry J. Pacey, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8419550
    Abstract: Cashbox security mechanisms, gaming machines with a cashbox security mechanism, and methods for securing and removing a portable cashbox from a gaming machine are presented herein. The cashbox security mechanism stores and secures a cashbox, which stows currency received, for example, from a currency processing device. The cashbox security mechanism includes an outer housing, such as a gaming machine cabinet or a substructure mounted inside a cabinet. An inner chassis mates with and retains the cashbox. The inner chassis and a security door are pivotably mounted with respect to the outer housing. The security door and inner chassis are positionable to cooperatively secure the cashbox within the cashbox security mechanism. Likewise, the security door and inner chassis are respositionable to cooperatively define an access chute through which the cashbox is removable from the cashbox security mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Philip Anthony, Jacob Greenberg, James Lipsey, Daniel Somen, William Venth, Scott Zeeb
  • Patent number: 8423779
    Abstract: Exposure of a security mechanism, over time and/or in particular markets, increases the likelihood that the security mechanism will be compromised. A security dongle, however, can resist/delay being comprised by compounding one or more security techniques with the security dongle security mechanism (e.g., a unique identifier of the dongle stored in a secure area of the dongle, a cryptographic token with a private key that cannot be retrieved from the memory of the security dongle, etc.). A dynamic element (e.g., a changing key) and/or an unexposed element (e.g., a private key secured by an owner) can be used in conjunction with a security dongle to buttress against being compromised. Using the dynamic element and/or the unexposed element, the security dongle can be cryptographically bound to at least an identifier of a piece of software enabled by the security dongle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Vernon W. Hamlin, Jorge L. Shimabukuro, Craig J. Sylla, Anussom Veradej, Gerardus A. Weijers
  • Patent number: 8419548
    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: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Timothy C. Loose, James M. Rasmussen, Victor T. Shi, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8419533
    Abstract: A method of preparing memory contents of a gaming machine for subsequent authentication and a method of authenticating the prepared memory contents are disclosed. A first memory stores a game data set and a first authentication code generated from the game data set. The game data set includes game data files and second authentication codes generated from the respective data files. A second memory stores an authentication program for authenticating the first memory's contents, as well as a third authentication code generated from the second memory's contents. To authenticate the memory contents, the second memory's contents are first authenticated and, if deemed authentic, the game data set as a whole and each data file in the first memory are authenticated. The authentication process involves generating fresh authentication codes using the authentication program and comparing the fresh codes with appropriate ones of the stored authentication codes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel J. Gazdic, Craig J. Sylla, Chad A. Ryan
  • Publication number: 20130090159
    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: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: WMS Gaming INC
    Inventors: Chad A. Ryan, Charles R. Bleich
  • Patent number: D681130
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Paul M. Lesley, Larry J. Pacey, Norman R. Wurz