Patents by Inventor Eric M. Pryzby
Eric M. Pryzby 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: 8414373Abstract: A wireless computerized wagering game system comprises a gaming module operable to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a wireless communications module operable to connect the wireless wagering game system to at least one wireless peripheral device. The wireless computerized wagering game is portable, is operable to couple to fixed and portable peripheral devices, and is operable to couple to user-provided and gaming establishment-provided peripherals in various embodiments.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2007Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Robert Bone, Christopher Brewer, Mark B. Gagner, Eric M. Pryzby, Richard T. Schwartz
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Patent number: 8403750Abstract: A wireless networked computerized wagering game system comprises a gaming module operable to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, a wireless network module operable to connect the wagering game system to at least one other networked device via a wireless network connection, and an audio module operable to manage an audio function of the wagering game system. In another embodiment the audio module is operable to present environmental sounds to a wagering game player.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2007Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Robert Bone, Michael P. Connelly, Mark B. Gagner, Eric M. Pryzby, Steve Zoloto
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Publication number: 20120289312Abstract: Systems and methods described herein include wagering game systems having a motion capable chair that moves in response to events or conditions that originate externally to a wagering game machine associated with the motion capable chair. Example systems and methods to control the motion capable chair include utilization of sensor data or information servers to determine external events or conditions, and using such data to control one or more motion capable chairs. External events or conditions may include notifications, marketing data, progressive game play events, an emotional state of an occupant of a motion capable chair, sounds, or other external stimuli.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2012Publication date: November 15, 2012Inventors: Vernon W. Hamlin, Edward Brunell, Faith LeBrun Jennings, Michael Dicillo, Eric M. Pryzby
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Publication number: 20120258791Abstract: A gaming system includes a chair communicably coupled to a gaming device. The chair includes an audio playback device operable to receive audio playback commands. The audio playback commands may be received from a gaming device physically attached to the chair, a remote gaming device, or from a network interface communicably coupling the chair to a gaming establishment audio system, a player tracking system, or other gaming establishment system. Additionally, the chair may include an audio data storage device. Audio data from the storage device may be played through speakers on the chair, audio output devices on a gaming device, or audio output devices on a peripheral attached to the gaming device such as a top box or signage peripheral.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2012Publication date: October 11, 2012Inventor: Eric M. Pryzby
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Patent number: 8262478Abstract: A gaming system includes a chair communicably coupled to a gaming device. The chair includes an audio playback device operable to receive audio playback commands. The audio playback commands may be received from a gaming device physically attached to the chair, a remote gaming device, or from a network interface communicably coupling the chair to a gaming establishment audio system, a player tracking system, or other gaming establishment system. Additionally, the chair may include an audio data storage device. Audio data from the storage device may be played through speakers on the chair, audio output devices on a gaming device, or audio output devices on a peripheral attached to the gaming device such as a top box or signage peripheral.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2005Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventor: Eric M. Pryzby
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Patent number: 8197340Abstract: 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. The system is coupled to at least one external sign assembly via a sign server, the external sign comprising one or more speakers. The wagering game system provides a volume control interface operable to allow a user of the wagering game system to control the volume of the one or more speakers comprising a part of the external sign assembly via the sign server.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2007Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Jesse Garvey, Steven J. Lee, Eric M. Pryzby
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Publication number: 20120115589Abstract: A gaming chair for use with a gaming machine that conducts a wagering game, the chair includes a seat and a tactile device for providing tactile sensations via the seat according to at least one of events occurring in the wagering game, and player input through an input device.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 11, 2012Publication date: May 10, 2012Inventors: Stephen A. Canterbury, Jacob C. Greenberg, Timothy C. Loose, Eric M. Pryzby, Norman R. Wurz
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Patent number: 8172677Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, a gaming system is disclosed including at least one community display and a plurality of personal media terminals. The at least one community display is adapted to display a community event thereon. The plurality of personal media terminals has a player positioning device and a plurality of speakers. At least two of the plurality of speakers are positioned to provide frontal audio to the player positioning device and at least two of the plurality of speakers are positioned to provide rear audio to the player positioning device. The plurality of speakers is positioned so as to provide a 360-degree sound field relative to the player positioning device. The 360-degree sound field for each of the plurality of personal media terminals differs based on the location of the personal media terminal in relation to the community display.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2007Date of Patent: May 8, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Charles R Bleich, Stephen A Canterbury, Eric M Pryzby, James M Rasmussen, Norman R Wurz
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Patent number: 8162752Abstract: The present invention provides in one embodiment a computerized wagering game system has a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered. A virtual radio audio module is operable to play one of a plurality of audio programs selected by a wagering game player. The selected audio program is presented to simulate a radio such that playing of the selected audio program may start from a point other than the beginning of the audio track.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2005Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: James Bonney, Michael P. Connelly, Eric M. Pryzby
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Patent number: 8113517Abstract: A gaming chair for use with a gaming machine that conducts a wagering game, the chair includes a seat and a tactile device for providing tactile sensations via the seat according to at least one of events occurring in the wagering game, and player input through an input device.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2005Date of Patent: February 14, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Stephen A. Canterbury, Jacob C. Greenberg, Timothy C. Loose, Eric M. Pryzby, Norman R. Wurz
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Patent number: 8100762Abstract: A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module comprising a processor and gaming code which is operable when executed on the processor to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and an audio channel coupled to an adaptive on-screen user volume control. The volume control comprises a user setting and a master setting, wherein the user volume setting is operable to adjust the system volume over a limited volume range near the master volume setting, and wherein the master volume is operable to change over time based on user volume settings.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2006Date of Patent: January 24, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Eric M. Pryzby, Paul Radek
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Publication number: 20110223993Abstract: Techniques for controlling wagering game environments are described herein. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method for controlling a casino wagering game environment includes determining a plurality of zones in the casino wagering game environment, wherein the zones include one or more wagering game machines. The can also include presenting wagering games on the wagering game machines in the wagering game environment, and detecting an event in the wagering game environment, the event triggering a bonus game for which a plurality of players have a possibility of winning an award. The method can also include determining one or more of the zones in which to present media associated with the bonus game, and presenting, in the one or more zones, the media associated with the bonus game. The method can also include determining a winner of the bonus game, and providing the award to the winner.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2009Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Robert Bone, Joel R. Jaffe, Larry J. Pacey, Eric M. Pryzby, Alfred Thomas
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Publication number: 20110118034Abstract: A lighting controller can be configured to control a variety of immersive lighting structures proximate to a wagering game machine (e.g., surrounding, affixed to, flanking, etc.) in accordance with game events (e.g., the wagering game being played, a bonus game, a portal game, etc.) and/or non-game events (e.g., emergency notifications, non-emergency casino announcements, etc.). The lighting controller can control the immersive lighting structure for a single wagering game machine and/or immersive lighting structures of multiple wagering game machines to produce light effects based on a lighting scheme that corresponds to a game event or non-game event.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2010Publication date: May 19, 2011Applicant: MWS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Joel R. Jaffe, Paul M. Lesley, Scott A. Massing, Eric M. Pryzby, Alfred Thomas, Martin R. Ugarte
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Publication number: 20110092288Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include determining an occurrence of an application event for an application that runs in association with a wagering game machine. The operations can further include accessing a custom sound source that includes customized sounds presentable separately from a soundtrack for the application, during a wagering game session on the wagering game machine. The operations can further include determining a custom sound, from the custom sound source, that relates to the application event and determining custom-sound presentation instructions associated with the custom sound. The operations can further include presenting the custom sound on sound production devices associated with the wagering game machine during the application event according to the custom-sound presentation instructions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2010Publication date: April 21, 2011Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Eric M. Pryzby, Steven J. Zoloto, Alfred Thomas
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Patent number: 7874909Abstract: A method of conducting a video wagering game includes displaying a portion of a symbol array on a display. The symbol array includes an advantageous symbol that is animated before a remaining portion of the symbol array is displayed.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2004Date of Patent: January 25, 2011Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Eric M. Pryzby, Michael P. Connelly
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Patent number: 7867085Abstract: A gaming machine system comprises a plurality of multimedia output devices, including audio, visual, and/or tactile devices strategically mounted around a casino. The multimedia devices may be used to present celebratory sights, sounds, and/or other sensations throughout the casino when a player achieves a winning outcome. The celebratory sights, sounds, and/or other sensations increase the overall level of stimuli in the casino, thereby helping to create a celebratory atmosphere. In some embodiments, the celebratory multimedia stimuli are communicated to certain gaming machines in the casino based on a triggering event that occurred at a remote gaming machine. The gaming machines may be the same type and/or brand, or they may be different types and/or brands such that the same celebratory stimuli are used to promote multiple types and/or brands of gaming machines. The celebratory stimuli may also be customized specifically for a gaming machine, a player(s), or a casino.Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 2005Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Eric M. Pryzby, Richard T. Schwartz
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Publication number: 20100317437Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include determining audio playlists from a plurality of independent wagering game applications (“applications”). The audio playlists can include multiple sound content that is activated contemporaneously on a wagering game machine for each of the applications. The operations can further include determining sound classes assigned to the sound content and determining, from prioritization rules, priority values for the sound classes. The operations can further include comparing the priority values and generating sound balancing priorities for the sound content based on the comparison of the priority values. The operations can also include dynamically balancing the sound content, as presented on audio production devices, based on the sound balancing priorities.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2010Publication date: December 16, 2010Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Robert G. Berry, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Eric M. Pryzby, Paul J. Radek, Charles A. Richards, Steven J. Zoloto
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Publication number: 20100298051Abstract: A computerized wagering game table system includes a wagering game module that is operable to present a wagering game upon which monetary value can be wagered, and an audio system. The audio system is operable to present different sound to each of a plurality of game players seated at the wagering game table.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2008Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Timothy C. Loose, Eric M. Pryzby, Paul Radek, Alfred Thomas
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Publication number: 20100261523Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes selective application of surround sound. The selective application of surround sound allows certain key gaming events to be emphasized over other gaming events. The surround sound may be varied to produce certain effects, such as a tactile effect and a gradual building up of suspense and anticipation that increases player excitement and enjoyment. A surround sound decoder may be added in some embodiments to convert monophonic and stereo wagering games into surround sound. The surround sound may be implemented as true surround sound or as virtual surround sound.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2010Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: James Bonney, Eric M. Pryzby
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Patent number: 7766747Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes selective application of surround sound. The selective application of surround sound allows certain key gaming events to be emphasized over other gaming events. The surround sound may be varied to produce certain effects, such as a tactile effect and a gradual building up of suspense and anticipation that increases player excitement and enjoyment. A surround sound decoder may be added in some embodiments to convert monophonic and stereo wagering games into surround sound. The surround sound may be implemented as true surround sound or as virtual surround sound.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2005Date of Patent: August 3, 2010Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: James Bonney, Eric M. Pryzby