Patents Assigned to WMS Gaming
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Patent number: 8308567Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: March 5, 2004Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Christopher W. Blackburn, Rory L. Block, Thomas A. Gentles, Vikram Swamy, Terry D. Warkentin
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Patent number: 8308574Abstract: Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter include one or more machine readable media including instructions which when executed by a machine cause the machine to perform operations comprising: loading, into a main memory of the machine, a wagering game software program configured to, upon execution, determine results for wagering games and to provide the results to remote wagering game terminals; executing the wagering game software program in the machine; deactivating the wagering game software program, wherein the deactivating includes, for each one of the wagering game terminals, determining that the one of the wagering game terminals has been idle for a specified time period; discontinuing determination of the results and provision of the results to the one of the wagering game terminals; and ceasing execution of the wagering game software.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2009Date of Patent: November 13, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Mary M. Burke, James E. Oatman, Jacqueline F. Parra
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Publication number: 20120283004Abstract: Systems and methods for using player information in wagering game environments are described herein. In one embodiment a method includes receiving a first set of player information, where the first set of player information indicates casino activities of a player. The method can also include analyzing the first set of player information and a second set of player information to determine preferences and tendencies associated with the player. The method can also include providing an indication of the preferences and tendencies to wagering game network devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Shridhar P. Joshi, Candace Lucas, Alfred Thomas
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Publication number: 20120282995Abstract: The disclosure includes a game of chance in which profile data for social contacts in a social networking system is used to determine whether a player wins or loses the game of chance. Social contacts are randomly selected from a group of social contacts. The social contacts may be obtained from a single data source or from multiple data sources and aggregated. A game player wins if the randomly selected social contacts have one or more profile attributes that match each other. The game may be presented as a slots based game in which profile pictures for the social contacts are the symbols for the reels of the slots game.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2012Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Andrew C. Guinn, Damon E. Gura, Robert L. Kyte, Harry C. Lang, Richard B. Robbins, Pamela S. Smith, Danijel Stankovic
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Publication number: 20120283012Abstract: Gaming terminals, gaming systems, signage displays, and supporting structures therefore are presented herein. A gaming terminal for playing a wagering game is disclosed. The gaming terminal includes a base cabinet, an input device for receiving wagers to play the wagering game, and a terminal display for displaying information related to the wagering game. A supporting structure for supporting a signage display immediately above the base cabinet of the gaming terminal is disclosed. The supporting structure and the signage display are each free of any physical attachment to the gaming terminal. The signage display houses a display device for displaying information related to the wagering game. The supporting structure can optionally incorporate a universal mounting apparatus for removably attaching the signage display to the supporting structure, and provide for rapidly re-arranging the signage displays associated with various gaming terminals.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2011Publication date: November 8, 2012Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Scott C. Bainbridge, Paul C. Barker, Arturo E. Mancilla
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Patent number: 8303391Abstract: A method of playing a wagering game on a gaming terminal. The gaming terminal displays a plurality of indicia during the wagering game, which are then selected via player inputs. The selected indicia are revealed and arranged into groups corresponding to winning combinations. The arrangement is made so as to maximize at least one of the plurality of predefined winning combinations.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2004Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Allon G. Englman, Jeremy M. Hornik
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Patent number: 8303414Abstract: A remote gaming method comprising a player accessing, via a remote terminal, a gaming site on a global computer network connected to the remote terminal. The player is able to provide via the remote terminal, personal identification information to the gaming site and select, via the remote terminal, a game of chance located at a gaming establishment for remote play. The remote terminal is located outside the gaming establishment. The player places, via the remote terminal, a wager for playing the selected game and receives randomly generated text or graphical outcome data at the remote terminal for the selected game. The outcome data being generated by either a gaming server or a gaming machine at the gaming establishment and is subsequently relayed to the gaming site.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2008Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventor: Shridhar P. Joshi
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Patent number: 8303402Abstract: A method of conducting a plurality of wagering games on a group of gaming machines includes receiving wagers from players at the group of gaming machines. In response to a triggering condition associated with a gaming machine of the group of gaming machines, the method further includes presenting a special event on the gaming machine, and changing a set of wagering game symbols required to achieve a known award on at least another one of the group of gaming machines.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2006Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Jeremy M. Hornik
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Patent number: 8303417Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for gaming-related communications in a hierarchical multi-tiered system are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes transmitting a master configuration from a central operations of a hierarchical multi-tiered system to a local gaming site having one or more gaming components. The method also includes receiving a selected configuration for one or more of the gaming components based on the master configuration. The method includes downloading the selected configuration to the one or more of the gaming components through the hierarchical multi-tiered system.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2011Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Mary M. Burke, Nevin J. Liber, Mark B. Ganger, Craig J. Sylla, Matthew J. Ward
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Patent number: 8303394Abstract: A gaming system comprises at least one wager input device, a plurality of gaming devices each displaying at least one primary wagering game, and a community display for displaying a community game. At least one controller is operative, in response to a triggering event, to (i) determine which of the plurality of gaming devices are eligible for participation in the community game, (ii) determine an individual award for each of the eligible gaming devices, (iii) determine a community award in the community game, (iv) select an individual award enhancement from a plurality of available individual award enhancements, (v) select one of the plurality of gaming devices to receive the selected individual award enhancement, and (vi) if the selected gaming device is eligible for participation in the community game, enhance the determined individual award for the selected gaming device with the selected individual award enhancement.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2008Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Allon G. Englman, Joel R. Jaffe
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Patent number: 8303403Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods for managing multi-game contexts. An apparatus comprises a wagering game unit operable to present a wagering game upon which monetary value can be wagered; and a game context management unit operable to determine a list of installed wagering games on a wagering game machine and to determine one or more relevant rules, wherein a relevant rule is a one that is related to at least one of the installed wagering games, the game context management unit further operable to process each relevant rule to calculate a group of available games; and to present the available games on a primary display.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2007Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Michael R. Bytnar, Kevin Kahley
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Patent number: 8303419Abstract: A system includes a gaming machine, one or more heat generating components within the gaming machine, and a thermoelectric cooler apparatus located within the gaming machine to draw heat from the one or more heat generating components.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2007Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventor: Andrew Landsman
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Patent number: 8303418Abstract: An illustrative method controls changes to be made in electronic gaming machines (EGMs) that permit wagering on games. A schedule of conditions to be implemented by one or more EGMs is stored in memory. The schedule includes records containing the identity of an EGM, conditions to be implemented by the identified EGM, dates on which the conditions are to be implemented, and start and end times during which the implementation is to occur. Each record stores a priority parameter. It is determined that at least two records are to be implemented on the same date such that a time overlap in servicing the implementation of first and second conditions associated with the first and second records would result. A time sequence of execution of the first and second records is determined based on the respective priority parameters of each of the first and second records.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2008Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Mary M. Burke, Michael R. Bytnar
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Patent number: 8303393Abstract: A gaming system includes at least one display configured to display a plurality of symbols positions. The plurality of symbol positions are configured to display symbols indicative of a randomly selected outcome of a wagering game in relation to a plurality of paylines. The gaming system further includes a controller configured to award an award for any winning outcome occurring along a payline and to add a number of winning paylines to a counter configured to track a number of winning paylines. The controller is further configured, in response to a number of winning paylines in the counter exceeding a predetermined threshold number, to activate a game feature in which a second award is awarded.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2008Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Joel R. Jaffe, Noel S. Steere
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Patent number: 8303398Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a value input device for receiving a wager and a processor for executing gameplay on the gaming machine. The processor has a plurality of power consumption levels. A power regulator is operative to alter the power consumption level of the processor amongst the plurality of power consumption levels. In an embodiment, the power regulator comprises application software stored on a memory device in communication with the processor.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2010Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Stephen A. Canterbury, Victor Mercado
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Patent number: 8303420Abstract: Wagering game systems, gaming machines, and methods of changing the appearance of a gaming machine are presented herein. In one embodiment, a gaming machine for playing a wagering game is presented. The gaming machine includes a display for displaying the outcomes of the wagering game, and an input device for receiving wagers from players. The gaming machine also includes a cabinet with a mounting base integrated to the top of the cabinet. The mounting base is configured to support any of a plurality of different top-box mounted fixtures, such as tower lights, marquees, and other signage. In some embodiments, the gaming machine also includes at least one electrical connector that is accessible from the exterior of the cabinet. The electrical connector is configured to electrically couple the selected top-box mounted fixture to the cabinet.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2011Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Christopher W. Chudek, David K. Rifkin, Thomas F. Costanzo, Michael R. Lewis, Sean E. Hayes
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Publication number: 20120276990Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a handheld gaming machine configured to play at least one game and a controller. The controller is configured to base eligibility of the handheld gaming machine for a game-related feature at least upon a location of the handheld gaming machine and/or a proximity of the handheld gaming machine to an external device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2012Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Vladimir I. Arezina, Mark B. Gagner, Jeremy M. Hornik, Larry J. Pacey, Richard T. Schwartz, Alfred Thomas
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Publication number: 20120277005Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include determining one or more casino events that request a configuration for one or more wagering game machines, generating one or more automated configuration tasks, assigning one or more properties to the tasks, and storing the one or more automated configuration tasks and the one or more properties so that the one or more properties are persisted on the gaming network. The operations can also include recovering a wagering game machine's operational state if the automated configuration tasks encounter problems during execution that affect the wagering game machine's playability.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2012Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Christopher W. Blackburn, Robert T. Davis, Christopher J. Frattinger
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Patent number: 8298078Abstract: A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module comprising gaming code which is operable when executed on to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a biofeedback module operable to track at least one biometric characteristic of a game player. The wagering game is further operable to alter presentation of the wagering game based on changes in the at least one biometric characteristic. A mood enhancement module is operable to provide energy to a wagering game player at a frequency designed to provide a mood enhancing effect.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2006Date of Patent: October 30, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: James E. Sutton, Samuel Leopold, Gene Rigsby
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Publication number: 20120270648Abstract: In one aspect, a wagering game system includes a display device including a projector, a rear switchable liquid crystal panel positioned in front of the projector to receive light output from the projector, a front switchable liquid crystal panel positioned in front of the rear switchable liquid crystal panel to receive light output through the rear switchable liquid crystal panel, and a liquid crystal panel assembly disposed in front of the front switchable liquid crystal panel. The front switchable liquid crystal panel and/or the rear switchable liquid crystal panel are configured to provide one or more regions controlled by the controller that may be independently maintained in a different state than other regions of the respective one of the front switchable liquid crystal panel and the rear switchable liquid crystal panel.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: James M. Rasmussen, John Burica, Timothy C. Loose