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).

  • Patent number: 8622816
    Abstract: A system can invigorate wagering games with dynamic updates to reflect changes in ongoing current events. Current real-life data about at least one of a current event and a public figure are acquired. Game data for a wagering game are updated based, at least in part, on the acquired current real-life data. A plurality of wagering game machines that host instances of the wagering game are determined. The updated game data is indicated over a network to the plurality of wagering game machines that host instances of the wagering games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Jeremy M. Hornik, Richard T. Schwartz
  • Patent number: 8616978
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include managing multiple instances of gaming applications associated with a wagering game client device and determining event data from the multiple instances of gaming applications. The operations can further include aggregating the event data into an event repository and determining that a requesting application requests some portion of the event data. The operations can further include opening a communication channel between the event data repository and the requesting application, formatting the requested portion of the event data in a format understandable to the requesting application, and communicating the requested portion of the event data to the requesting application via the communication channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Jacek A. Grabiec, Damon E. Gura, Budyanto Himawan, Jason A. Smith
  • Publication number: 20130337890
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: WMS GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Edward Q. Earley, Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Daniel P. Louie
  • Publication number: 20130337889
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Sean P. Kelly, Jesse M. Smith, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 8597113
    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: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Damon E. Gura, Robert L. Kyte, Larry J. Pacey, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 8597112
    Abstract: An 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. An external evaluator evaluates game outcome data, received from a wagering gaming machine via a network, against criteria for a plurality of events (203). It is determined that the game outcome data satisfies a criterion of a first of the plurality of events. The criteria comprise the criterion. A device is determined that performs an operation that, at least partially, implements the first of the plurality of events (323). A communication that indicates the first of the plurality of events is transmitted to the device via the network (327).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Jacek A. Grabiec, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Damon E. Gura, Budyanto Himawan
  • Publication number: 20130316818
    Abstract: Systems and methods receive data from one or more source databases into a target database and use the data to personalize or customize a wagering game to a game player. The data may be social network data regarding a player's social contacts, fantasy sports league data associated with the player or other data associated with the player. The data is normalized and data elements from the data are mapped to game elements or symbols to create personalized game elements or symbols. The personalized game elements or symbols are then used as part of a wagering game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: WMS GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Edward Q. Earley, Damon E. Gura, Robert L. Kyte, Richard B. Robbins
  • Patent number: 8591315
    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 determine the environmental effect to be created for an event at the wagering game machine, at a server, etc. A request for the environmental effect is then supplied to the process and/or machine that causes the devices to create the environmental effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Damon E. Gura, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20130310163
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include obtaining gaming information associated with wagering games, wagering game machines, etc. In some embodiments, the gaming information is obtained via a communication link between a gaming device and a mobile device. The operations can further include selecting, loading, and/or accessing a profile for the mobile device in response to obtaining the gaming information. The operations can further include modifying, and/or suggesting modifications for, the profile for the mobile device based on the gaming information. In some embodiments, the operations include modifying a profile for a gaming device or a wagering game based on information obtained from the mobile device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: WMS GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Jesse M. Smith, Damon E. Gura, Scott A. Massing, Danijel Stankovic
  • Publication number: 20130296027
    Abstract: A wagering game account management system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations include initiating a wagering game session and determining that an amount of winnings for the wagering game session are above a specific value. In some embodiments, the operations further include in response to the determining that the amount of winnings for the wagering game session are above the specific value, transferring a first portion of monetary value from a session balance, for the wagering game session, to a financial account separate from the session balance, wherein a second portion of the session balance remains for use in the wagering game session. In some embodiments, the financial account does not support wagering-game-related withdrawals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Jacek A. Grabiec, Damon E. Gura, Erhard W. Rathsack, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20130288804
    Abstract: 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. This publisher subscriber architecture is extendible to allow processes to publish and subscribe to other processes in different network through an intermediary publisher/subscriber or publisher/subscriber manager.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Larry J. Pacey, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8568212
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Krishnakumar Meluveettil
  • Publication number: 20130281204
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Larry J. Pacey, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8556714
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include presenting a wagering game on a display device of a wagering game machine. The operations can also include detecting head movements and facial gestures of a player of the wagering game via a video capture device of the wagering game machine, and generating player input data based on the head movements and facial gestures of the player. The operations can further include modifying wagering game content based on the player input data associated with the head movements and facial gestures of the player, and presenting results of the wagering game on the display device of the wagering game machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Travis L. Bowers, Mark B. Gagner, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Damon E. Gura, Joel R. Jaffe, John F. LaSalvia, James E. Motyl, Victor T. Shi, Jorge L. Shimabukuro, Mark K. Trego, Michael C. Ward, Scott A. Massing
  • Publication number: 20130267312
    Abstract: A method includes determining a load order for loading game assets into a cache memory of a wagering game machine, wherein the game assets comprise data used for presentation of a wagering game at the wagering game machine. The game assets are accessible by a processor in the wagering game machine from the cache memory for presentation of the wagering game, wherein the load order is based on wagering game activity at the wagering game machine. The method includes loading the game assets into the cache memory based on the load order. The method includes accessing, by a processor in the wagering game machine, the game assets from the cache memory. The method also includes presenting, on at least one display device, the wagering game based on the game assets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: WMS GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: John L. Walsh, Damon E. Gura, Jorge L. Shimabukuro, Craig J. Sylla
  • Patent number: 8512135
    Abstract: Systems for processing wagering game events are described herein. In one embodiment, a wagering game machine comprises a plurality of input devices configured to generate events. The apparatus can also include an event handler configured to detect the events, to cause persistent storage of the events, and to transmit the events. The apparatus can also include a wagering game controller configured to receive the events from the event handler and to present and replay wagering games using the events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Mark E. Gagner, Damon E. Gura
  • Patent number: 8506405
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include transmitting game content from a wagering game server to a gaming machine via a network to present a wagering game at the gaming machine for a player, and generating and storing video of one or more rounds of the wagering game. The operations can also include receiving, at the wagering game server via the network, video of the player playing the one or more rounds of the wagering game. The operations can further include combining the video of the one or more rounds of the wagering game with the video of the player playing the one or more rounds of the wagering game, and storing and providing access to the combined video via the network to a player account associated with the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Krishnakumar Meluveettil, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 8480497
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Larry J. Pacey, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8449394
    Abstract: A plug-in architecture for a wagering game network is described. Plug-in modules may provide various functions for services related to wagering games. Such functions may include random number generation, user interface functions, player tracking functions, central determinant functions etc. The plug-ins are dynamically loaded during the run-time of an application or service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Dale R. Buchholz, Damon E. Gura, Larry Pacey, Craig J. Sylla, Travis Whidden, Timothy D. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20130130778
    Abstract: A wagering game machine includes a processor and a wagering game module, executable on the processor, configured to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered to a wagering game player. The machine includes a receiver configured to communicate with a transmitter of a mobile device to receive a mobile payment from the mobile device. The machine includes a bill validator that is communicatively coupled to the receiver. The bill validator configured to receive the mobile payment from the receiver, wherein the bill validator is configured to output a first communication to issue a first wagering game credit for the wagering game machine in response to receipt of a monetary bill, wherein in response to receipt of the mobile payment from the receiver the bill validator is configured to output a second communication to issue a second wagering game credit on the wagering game machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Dale R. Buchholz, Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Alfred Thomas, Matthew J. Ward