Patents by Inventor Damon E. Gura
Damon E. Gura 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: 9269220Abstract: 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 web 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: GrantFiled: December 13, 2013Date of Patent: February 23, 2016Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Ryan D. Antkowiak, Daniel J. Gazdic, Damon E. Gura, Budyanto Himawan, Audrey F. Y. Ho, Jeffrey M. Leverenz
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Patent number: 9262886Abstract: This description describes techniques for processing events in a wagering game machine. In some embodiments, a wagering game machine includes a game controller configured to instantiate a game state element based on game state element generation information and game state types, wherein the game state element is configured to present a wagering game, and wherein the game state element includes states, wherein each state includes behaviors. The wagering game machine can also include an event controller to notify the game state element about events, wherein the events cause the game state element to move between the states and to perform the behaviors.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2007Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Damon E. Gura
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Publication number: 20160012673Abstract: An establishment can coordinate devices (e.g., lights, speakers, displays) to enhance a game playing environment based on events detected in a network of wagering game machines. A system can be implemented that determines an environmental effect based on an event of a wagering game (e.g., a near win event), regardless of the particular wagering game developer/manufacturer. The system can then determine that the environmental effect should be modified based on current circumstances of the area to be impacted and/or the player, for example. The system modifies the environment effect as indicated for the current circumstances and causes the modified environmental effect to be produced.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2015Publication date: January 14, 2016Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Damon E. Gura, Alfred Thomas
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Patent number: 9235953Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes presenting a wagering game at a wagering game machine. The method includes establishing a wireless communication between the wagering game machine and a mobile device. The method also includes, in response to a wagering game player satisfying a wagering game criteria when playing the wagering game, enabling access to content on the mobile device, wherein the content is based on a context resulting from the wagering game player playing the wagering game.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Edward Q. Earley, Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Daniel P. Louie
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Patent number: 9235956Abstract: Described herein are processes and devices that determine and assign rewards as a group in a wagering game system utilizing social contacts. One of the devices described herein, a wagering game system, determines a first player account associated with a wagering game and looks at the first player account to determine a second player account associated with the first player account as a social network contact. The first player account and the second player account comprise a group of members in a group game or challenge. The wagering game system determines a reward that can be assigned to the group members. The wagering game system determines one or more tasks that must be performed before assigning the reward. The wagering game system presents the one or more tasks to the group members. The wagering game system detects when the tasks are completed and assigns the reward to the group members.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2008Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Damon E. Gura, Jeremy M. Hornik
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Patent number: 9235957Abstract: A publisher-subscriber architecture with standardized and/or dynamic event/message look up can be implemented on wagering game establishment networks to establish a robust and flexible reporting and reacting mechanism. Processes that operate in accordance with the publisher-subscriber architecture can coordinate operations across multiple devices in a wagering game establishment, and even across multiple wagering game establishments, in response to an event occurring. Processes can operate as publishers and/or subscribers, and can reside on a WGM (e.g., standalone, portable, etc.) or a server. Processes operating as publishers on a WGM can publish information about events that occur on the WGM. Processes operating as subscribers can interpret published event information from different vendors and use published event information in a number of different ways.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2013Date of Patent: January 12, 2016Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Larry J. Pacey, Alfred Thomas
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Patent number: 9224263Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 8, 2014Date of Patent: December 29, 2015Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Timothy C. Loose, James M. Rasmussen, Victor T. Shi, Alfred Thomas
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Publication number: 20150371504Abstract: Leaderboards that aggregate data from across different wagering games (e.g., online wagering games and casino based wagering games) can create a game independent spirit of competition and recognition. Wagering game data of a plurality of players across different wagering games can be aggregated together. The plurality of players are ranked based, at least in part, on the wagering game data aggregated across the different wagering games. A leaderboard is updated based, at least in part, on the ranking of the plurality of players.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2015Publication date: December 24, 2015Inventors: Andrew C. Guinn, Damon E. Gura, Michael W. Mastropietro, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz
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Patent number: 9208645Abstract: Described herein are processes and devices that integrate social contact identifiers into wagering games. Some embodiments include providing game play elements configured for use in presentation of possible outcomes for a wagering game, wherein the wagering game is associated with a first player account stored on an account server. Some embodiments further include selecting, via one or more processors, a second player account indicated in the first player account as a social contact of a player associated with the first player account. Some embodiments further include, via at least one of the one or more processors, providing a social contact identifier of the second player account for use in the wagering game to represent at least a portion of at least one of the game play elements.Type: GrantFiled: January 30, 2015Date of Patent: December 8, 2015Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Damon E. Gura, Jeremy M. Hornik
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Patent number: 9192852Abstract: Described herein are systems, methods, etc. to perform operations which, in some embodiments, include receiving, a request for concurrent presentation of a first wagering game and a second wagering game via a display device of a wagering game machine, wherein the first wagering game includes first content that originates from a first content source, wherein the second wagering game includes second content that originates from a second content source. The operations can further include accessing funds associated with the first wagering game. The operations can further include funding one or more wagers for the second wagering game using at least a portion of the accessed funds.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2013Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Craig J. Sylla
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Patent number: 9192855Abstract: A system for granting and managing dynamic digital achievements can grant dynamic digital achievements in a controlled manner to encourage player participation in wagering game establishments. A dynamic digital achievement lives beyond an initial grant and can exhibit different behaviors over time and/or in combination with other digital achievements. The dynamic digital achievements can comprise an image, a sequence of images, video, executable code, audio, etc. The dynamic behavior of a digital achievement can increase interest in the digital achievement, thus increasing interest in the corresponding activity, whether wagering game activity or non-wagering game activity. Moreover, the system for granting and managing dynamic digital achievements is not limited to wagering game networks. The system can interface with other vendor systems and cause a dynamic digital achievement to exhibit behavior based on activity by a player in a non-gaming environment.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2013Date of Patent: November 24, 2015Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Krishnakumar Meluveettil
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Patent number: 9183700Abstract: 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. An indication that a first player desires to be included in a game provided on a social network system is stored. The game randomly selects a subset of a plurality of social contacts of a second player. In response to determining that the first player is included in the randomly selected subset of the plurality of social contacts, an award is provided to the first player.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 2014Date of Patent: November 10, 2015Assignee: Bally 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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Patent number: 9159190Abstract: An establishment can coordinate devices (e.g., lights, speakers, displays) to enhance a game playing environment based on events detected in a network of wagering game machines. A system can be implemented that determines an environmental effect based on an event of a wagering game (e.g., a near win event), regardless of the particular wagering game developer/manufacturer. The system can then determine that the environmental effect should be modified based on current circumstances of the area to be impacted and/or the player, for example. The system modifies the environment effect as indicated for the current circumstances and causes the modified environmental effect to be produced.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2013Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Damon E. Gura, Alfred Thomas
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Patent number: 9147317Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game allows players, casino operators, and/or gaming machine manufacturers to selectively combine base games and bonus games. This modular approach allows players, casino operators, and/or gaming machine manufacturers to mix and match base games and bonus games as needed. In some embodiments, players, casino operators, and/or gaming machine manufacturers may also select different game features to employ in the bonus and/or base games. Such an arrangement allows players, casino operators, and/or gaming machine manufacturers to configure each base game and/or bonus game according to their preferences.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2014Date of Patent: September 29, 2015Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Damon E. Gura, Robert L. Kyte, Larry J. Pacey, Matthew J. Ward
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Publication number: 20150262451Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some examples, the operations can include determining, via an electronic presentation controller, that a first presentation priority of the first content exceeds a second presentation priority of the second content for presentation via an electronic output device of the wagering game system. The operations can further include analyzing, via the electronic presentation controller, presentation criteria associated with one or more of the first gaming application or the second gaming application. The operations can further include electronically modifying, via the electronic presentation controller, a presentation setting of the second content in response to determining, based on the analyzing of the presentation criteria, that modifying the presentation setting would cause the second presentation priority to increase.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2015Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventors: Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Dale R. Buchholz, Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Mark C. Pace, Larry J. Pacey
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Patent number: 9123201Abstract: Leaderboards that aggregate data from across different wagering games (e.g., online wagering games and casino based wagering games) can create a game independent spirit of competition and recognition. Wagering game data of a plurality of players across different wagering games can be aggregated together. The plurality of players are ranked based, at least in part, on the wagering game data aggregated across the different wagering games. A leaderboard is updated based, at least in part, on the ranking of the plurality of players.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2013Date of Patent: September 1, 2015Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Andrew C. Guinn, Damon E. Gura, Michael W. Mastropietro, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz
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Patent number: 9111413Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include detecting one or more audible communications made during a wagering game session, evaluating the one or more audible communications in context with gaming information associated with the wagering game session; and presenting an automated response to the one or more audible communications based on the evaluating of the one or more audible communications in context with gaming information.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2013Date of Patent: August 18, 2015Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Sean P. Kelly, Jesse M. Smith, Matthew J. Ward
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Patent number: 9098970Abstract: Apparatus, systems, and methods may operate to receive operational power from a primary power supply at a processor housed within a wagering game machine, where the processor is operable to present a wagering game. Further activities may include determining that the wagering game machine is currently in a hibernation state, authenticating at least one hibernation file, and resuming operation of the wagering game machine to a base operation state defined by the at least one hibernation file. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2012Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Ryan Antkowiak, Jesse Garvey, Damon E. Gura, Vernon W. Hamlin, Budyanto Himawan, Mahesh Lakshmanaperumal, Laurie Lasseter, Robert A. McPeak, Jorge Luis Shimabukuro, Craig J. Sylla, Anussorn Andy Veradej, Jun Wang
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Publication number: 20150170464Abstract: Described herein are processes and devices that integrate social contact identifiers into wagering games. Some embodiments include providing game play elements configured for use in presentation of possible outcomes for a wagering game, wherein the wagering game is associated with a first player account stored on an account server. Some embodiments further include selecting, via one or more processors, a second player account indicated in the first player account as a social contact of a player associated with the first player account. Some embodiments further include, via at least one of the one or more processors, providing a social contact identifier of the second player account for use in the wagering game to represent at least a portion of at least one of the game play elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 30, 2015Publication date: June 18, 2015Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Damon E. Gura, Jeremy M. Hornik
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Patent number: 9058724Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include obtaining data provided from a first application. In some examples, the first application is a wagering game application presented on a wagering game machine. The operations can also include determining a subscription level associated with a second application. The subscription level indicates access to the data from the first application. Further, the operations can also include, providing a service to the second application. In some examples, the service is one of a plurality of tiers of services that correspond to the subscription level. In some examples, the service has one of a plurality of degrees of access to the data from the first application according to the subscription level.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2014Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Dale R. Buchholz, Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Mark C. Pace, Larry J. Pacey