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).

  • Publication number: 20140148245
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: 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
  • Patent number: 8727884
    Abstract: This description describes techniques for storing and utilizing wagering game histories. In one embodiment, a method for recording progress of a wagering game can include detecting a first event indicating a first activity of the wagering game. The method can also include storing the first event according to a first data format and detecting a second event indicating a second activity of the wagering game, wherein the second event includes random number information indicating a result of the wagering game. The method can also include encrypting the second event and storing the second event according to the first data format.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Erhard W. Rathsack
  • Patent number: 8715073
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include receiving application data provided from multiple applications on a wagering game machine. The application data can indicate needs by the multiple applications to present content on the wagering game machine. The operations can also include prioritizing the presentation of the content based on control rules that govern interoperability between the multiple applications. The operations can also include determining access rights, subscription levels, or other limitations on the multiple applications to present the content and access to each other's application data. The operations can further include presenting controls so that player accounts can modify the manner or priority of presenting the content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Dale R. Buchholz, Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Mark C. Pace, Larry J. Pacey
  • Publication number: 20140121015
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include detecting initiation of a wagering game and determining, in response to the detecting the initiation of the wagering game, first content and second content to present for the wagering game. The operations can further include providing the first content for presentation on a display device, the first content being viewable through the gaming eyewear, and providing the second content for presentation as a virtual image via the gaming eyewear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Massing, Damon E. Gura, Daniel P. Louie, Jesse M. Smith, Jamie W. Vann
  • Patent number: 8702508
    Abstract: A community game that adapts a scene on a community display based on the number of participating players and/or player locations from one session of the community game to another or in any given session and/or number of the gaming terminals. Selectable elements are displayed on the community display for selection by the participating players. When additional players are eligible to participate in the community game, a field of view or a virtual camera angle of a scene is changed to reveal additional selectable elements or a greater variety of selectable elements than were available for selection with fewer participating players. Any of the selectable elements can be cooperatively selectable elements which multiple players can select to reveal an enhanced award. Based on the players' locations, the scene can be adapted to portray selectable elements or previously hidden or obscured areas of the scene closest to the newly participating player(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Damon E. Gura, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140106881
    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 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: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Inventors: Ryan D. Antkowiak, Daniel J. Gazdic, Damon E. Gura, Budyanto Himawan, Audrey F. Y. Ho, Jeffrey M. Leverenz
  • Publication number: 20140106864
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Craig J. Sylla
  • Publication number: 20140101537
    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 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: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan D. Antkowiak, Daniel J. Gazdic, Damon E. Gura, Budyanto Himawan, Audrey F. Y. Ho, Jeffrey M. Leverenz
  • Publication number: 20140094274
    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 display devices, one or more input devices, one or more processors, and one or more memory devices. The memory device(s) stores instructions that, when executed by the processor(s), cause the gaming system to: simultaneously display the wagering game and a real-time event; randomly determine an outcome of the wagering game; identify a selected incident occurring in the real-time event, the occurrence of which is not controlled by the player or the gaming system; associate the selected incident with a parameter of the wagering game; and, upon occurrence of the selected incident in the real-time event during the simultaneous display of the wagering game and the real-time event, modify the parameter for a play of the wagering game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Guinn, Jeremie D. Moll, Thomas R. Wood, Damon E. Gura, Brian C. Marrant
  • Publication number: 20140087810
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations include receiving event data from a first application available on a wagering game machine, wherein the event data is in a first data format that is natively understood by the first application and not natively understood by a second application available on the wagering game machine. In some embodiments, the operations further include converting the event data to a second data format natively understood by the second application, wherein the second data format is not natively understood by the first application. In some embodiments, the operations further include communicating the event data in the second data format to the second application.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Jacek A. Grabiec, Damon E. Gura, Budyanto Himawan, Jason A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20140080603
    Abstract: Techniques for processing and presenting wagering data are presented herein. In one embodiment, a method comprises configuring a wagering game terminal for contemporaneously presenting content for a plurality of wagering games. Configuring the terminal can include dividing a player interface into a plurality of areas, wherein each of the areas is associated with one of the plurality of wagering games. The configuring can also include resizing the content to fit in the areas. The method can also include receiving, from a remote wagering game server, results for one or more of the wagering games, and selecting portions of the content, wherein the portions of the content graphically represent the results. The method can also include displaying the portions of the content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Craig J. Sylla
  • Patent number: 8672752
    Abstract: This document describes inter alia a method for presenting an interface on a wagering game machine, where the interface includes a plurality of wagering game icons, and where each of the wagering game icons indicates a wagering game that is available on the wagering game machine. The method can include presenting wagering game icons in an interface, wherein the wagering game icons form a row, and wherein each wagering game icon occupies a position in the row, and detecting a sweeping screen touch on a touch screen. The method can also include shifting, based on the sweeping screen touch, the wagering game icons to different positions in the row, where the shifting causes a wagering game icon at an end position in the row to disappear from the interface, and where the shifting also causes a new wagering game icon to appear at another end position in the row.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Jacek A. Grabiec, Damon E. Gura, Michael J. Irby, II, Larry J. Pacey, Scott H. Schulhof, Tracey L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20140066184
    Abstract: Although wagering games and wagering game machines provide significant entertainment and excitement, outcomes of wagering games can be used to provide entertainment and excitement external to the wagering game machines and even distinct and/or separate from the wagering games that generate the outcomes. A wagering game machine can communicate wagering game outcome data to a machine that is external to the wagering game machine for evaluation of the wagering game outcome data (“external evaluator”). The external evaluator can evaluate the wagering game outcome data against rules and/or criteria that lead to an exciting and entertaining event separate and/or distinct from the wagering game itself. Evaluating wagering game outcome data separate from the hosting wagering game machine allows a variety of events to be associated with game outcomes and allows for events to adapt to a dynamic environment and/or to player preferences.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Jacek A. Grabiec, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Damon E. Gura, Budyanto Himawan
  • Patent number: 8662981
    Abstract: A wagering game developer can support an online wager gaming community and provide digital representatives to members to enhance real-life wager gaming experience. A wagering game establishment server imports a digital representative of a wagering game player from the online wager gaming community. The server determines wagering game activity of the wagering game player at one or more electronic wagering game machines. The server determines an update for the digital representative based on the determined wagering game activity of the wagering game player, and then associates the update with the digital representative. The update includes a second executable code. Later, the server exports the digital representative with the second executable code associated therewith to the online wager gaming community.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, James S. Halprin, Jeremy M. Hornik, Joel R. Jaffe, John M. Koszarek
  • Publication number: 20140057726
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Damon E. Gura, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140051508
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Krishnakumar Meluveettil
  • Publication number: 20140038709
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a computer-implemented method for enabling a player to configure and initiate multiplayer wagering games. The computer-implemented method can include presenting, on a display device of a wagering game machine, a graphical user interface including social contact icons representing social contacts associated with the player, and a multiplayer wagering game icon associated with a multiplayer wagering game. The method can also include detecting input indicating selection of the multiplayer wagering game icon and the social contact icons. The method can also include transmitting, to the social contacts via a network, invitations to participate in the multiplayer wagering game. The method can also include detecting acceptance of the invitations from at least one of the social contacts, and conducting the multiplayer wagering game involving the player and the at least one of the social contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: WMS GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Edward Q. Earley, Damon E. Gura, Joel R. Jaffe, Larry J. Pacey, Craig J. Sylla, Jamie W. Vann
  • Publication number: 20140038141
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter include a computer-implemented method for providing tutorial content explaining a live casino table game. The method can include capturing a video stream of the live casino table game. The method can also include determining a game state for the live casino table game, wherein the game state includes a record of wagers for players of the live casino table game and results for the players of the live casino table game. The method can also include determining tutorial content based on the game state for the live casino table game, wherein the tutorial content includes information explaining strategy for the live casino table game. The method can also include transmitting a content stream including the video stream of the live casino table game and the tutorial content.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Keith J. Burza, Damon E. Gura, Patrick M. Gustafson, David W. Hasson
  • Patent number: 8641501
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: 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
  • Publication number: 20140018163
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Damon E. Gura, Robert L. Kyte, Larry J. Pacey, Matthew J. Ward