Patents by Inventor Mark C. Pace

Mark C. Pace 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: 10403081
    Abstract: Systems and methods for serving patrons in a wagering game environment are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving patron service information, wherein the patron service information indicates activities of a patron in a casino. The method can also include selecting, based on the patron service information, a service for the patron, wherein the patron has not requested the service. Additionally, the method can include presenting a service order instructing a service attendant to deliver the service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Dean A. Ehrlich, Andrew Fowler, Mark B. Gagner, Joel R. Jaffe, Shridhar P. Joshi, Mark C. Pace, Larry J. Pacey, Christopher Green, Kate H. Holmes, Peter Petras
  • Patent number: 9536390
    Abstract: Systems and methods for serving patrons in a wagering game environment are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving patron service information, wherein the patron service information indicates activities of a patron in a casino. The method can also include selecting, based on the patron service information, a service for the patron, wherein the patron has not requested the service. Additionally, the method can include presenting a service order instructing a service attendant to deliver the service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Dean A. Ehrlich, Andrew Fowler, Mark B. Gagner, Joel R. Jaffe, Shridhar P. Joshi, Mark C. Pace, Larry J. Pacey, Christopher Green, Kate H. Holmes, Peter Petras
  • Patent number: 9520024
    Abstract: A method of operating a wagering game network the supports a plurality of award types.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Jeremy M. Hornik, Shridhar P. Joshi, Mark C. Pace, Larry J. Pacey, Richard T. Schwartz, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 9454871
    Abstract: A wagering game system configured to perform operations including 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: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Dale R. Buchholz, Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Mark C. Pace, Larry J. Pacey
  • Patent number: 9443385
    Abstract: “Described herein are processes and devices that perform operations that, 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. The first wagering game includes first content that originates from a first content source, and the second wagering game includes second content that originates from a second content source. The operations further include accessing funds associated with the first wagering game. The operations further include funding one or more wagers for the second wagering game using at least a portion of the accessed funds associated with the first wagering game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Vijay K. Agarwal, Dale R. Buchholz, Mary M. Burke, Timothy F. Dinovo, Magesh Gangadharan, Jacek A. Grabiec, James S. Halprin, Mark C. Pace, Jacqueline F. Parra, David M. Pryor, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 9430899
    Abstract: A method includes presenting, by at least one processor, a configuration interface to enable creation of a presentation template. The method includes defining a number of presentation areas in the presentation template. The method includes defining a configuration setting for at least a first presentation area of the number of presentation areas, wherein the configuration setting limits a content type that is to be displayed in the first presentation area and defines a display location where the presentation area is positioned. At least one content of a number of content to be displayed in the number of presentation areas comprises wagering game play. The method includes storing, in a machine-readable medium, the presentation template.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Dale R. Buchholz, Mark C. Pace, Vikram Swamy
  • Publication number: 20160171831
    Abstract: A method of operating a wagering game network the supports a plurality of award types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Jeremy M. Hornik, Shridhar P. Joshi, Mark C. Pace, Larry J. Pacey, Richard T. Schwartz, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 9336649
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method including determining a first wagering game content and a second wagering game content, wherein the first wagering game content is related to a first wagering game, and wherein the second wagering game content is related to a second wagering game. The method can also include determining, based on priority rules, a first display priority for the first wagering game content, and a second display priority for the second wagering game content. The method can also include presenting, based on the first display priority, the first wagering game content. The method can also include presenting, based on the second display priority, the second wagering game content after the presenting of the first wagering game content, and detecting player inputs. The method can also include assigning priority values to the player inputs, and responding to the player inputs in an order related to the priority values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay K. Agarwal, Dale R. Buchholz, Mary M. Burke, Timothy F. Dinovo, Magesh Gangadharan, Jacek A. Grabiec, James S. Halprin, Mark C. Pace, Jacqueline F. Parra, David M. Pryor, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 9269230
    Abstract: Embodiments of the inventive subject matter include a method comprising determining, by a wagering game unit of a wagering game machine, a result of a wagering game. The method can also include requesting, over a network by an award system unit of the wagering game machine, awards of a first award type be added to an electronic player account based on the result of the wagering game. The method can include receiving, by the award system unit, electronic input requesting to exchange the awards of the first award type in the electronic player account for awards of a second award type. The method can include requesting, over the network by the award system unit, exchange of the awards of the first award type in the electronic player account for the awards of the second award type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Jeremy M. Hornik, Shridhar P. Joshi, Mark C. Pace, Larry J. Pacey, Richard T. Schwartz, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20160012661
    Abstract: Systems and methods for serving patrons in a wagering game environment are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving patron service information, wherein the patron service information indicates activities of a patron in a casino. The method can also include selecting, based on the patron service information, a service for the patron, wherein the patron has not requested the service. Additionally, the method can include presenting a service order instructing a service attendant to deliver the service.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Dean A. Ehrlich, Andrew Fowler, Mark B. Gagner, Joel R. Jaffe, Shridhar P. Joshi, Mark C. Pace, Larry J. Pacey, Christopher Green, Kate H. Holmes, Peter Petras
  • Patent number: 9202334
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include monitoring, at a wagering game machine, base wagering game activity associated with one or more base wagering games that are presented during a wagering game session. The operations can also include generating and transmitting one or more activity notification messages comprising at least an indication of the base wagering game activity to a player tracking server to cause the player tracking server to reward the base wagering game activity. The operations can further include generating and transmitting login and logout notification messages to a secondary game server to cause the secondary game server to determine secondary wagering game activity associated with one or more secondary wagering games presented during the wagering game session. The secondary wagering game activity can be used by the player tracking server to reward the secondary wagering game activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Daniel P. Louie, James E. Oatman, Mark C. Pace, Erhard W. Rathsack, Craig J. Sylla, Matthew J. Ward
  • Publication number: 20150262451
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Publication date: September 17, 2015
    Inventors: Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Dale R. Buchholz, Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Mark C. Pace, Larry J. Pacey
  • Publication number: 20150199866
    Abstract: A method includes presenting, by at least one processor, a configuration interface to enable creation of a presentation template. The method includes defining a number of presentation areas in the presentation template. The method includes defining a configuration setting for at least a first presentation area of the number of presentation areas, wherein the configuration setting limits a content type that is to be displayed in the first presentation area and defines a display location where the presentation area is positioned. At least one content of a number of content to be displayed in the number of presentation areas comprises wagering game play. The method includes storing, in a machine-readable medium, the presentation template.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Inventors: Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Dale R. Buchholz, Mark C. Pace, Vikram Swamy
  • Patent number: 9058724
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Dale R. Buchholz, Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Mark C. Pace, Larry J. Pacey
  • Patent number: 9033791
    Abstract: Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of configuring gaming devices, and computer programs for configuring gaming devices are featured. A gaming machine is disclosed for communicatively coupling to peer gaming machines via a peer-to-peer network. The gaming machine includes a display device(s), a processor(s), and a memory device(s) storing instructions that cause the gaming machine to: store a first set of data indicative of the gaming machine's configuration parameters and a second set of data indicative of the gaming machine's performance; receive from one or more peer gaming machines a third set of data indicative of the peer gaming machine's(s') configuration parameters and a fourth set of data indicative of the peer gaming machine's(s') performance; analyze the third and fourth data sets to determine modifications to the gaming machine's configuration parameters to improve machine performance; and, automatically modify at least one configuration parameter of the gaming machine based upon the analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Vernon W. Hamlin, Craig J. Sylla, Paul A. Quaglia, Scot W. Salzman, Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Mark C. Pace
  • Patent number: 8968080
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a computerized method includes: creating a number of frames of images for displaying on a monitor of a wagering game machine; and selecting at least a subset of the number of frames. The method can also include performing pixel encoding in the images of the subset of the number of frames, where the pixel encoding is used to identify at least one of adding third party content to the images. The method can also include replacing the images with the third party content, where the adding of the third party content and replacing with the third party content occurs after creating the frame but prior to the displaying the frame on the monitor of the wagering game machine. The method can also include transmitting the number of frames of images to the monitor of the wagering game machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Bruce H. Blair, John M. Burica, Mark B. Gagner, Vernon W. Hamlin, Michael J. Irby, Timothy C. Loose, Scott M. Minch, Mark C. Pace, Eugene M. Rigsby, Craig J. Sylla, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140378216
    Abstract: Embodiments of the inventive subject matter include a method comprising determining, by a wagering game unit of a wagering game machine, a result of a wagering game. The method can also include requesting, over a network by an award system unit of the wagering game machine, awards of a first award type be added to an electronic player account based on the result of the wagering game. The method can include receiving, by the award system unit, electronic input requesting to exchange the awards of the first award type in the electronic player account for awards of a second award type. The method can include requesting, over the network by the award system unit, exchange of the awards of the first award type in the electronic player account for the awards of the second award type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Jeremy M. Hornik, Shridhar P. Joshi, Mark C. Pace, Larry J. Pacey, Richard T. Schwartz, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140287834
    Abstract: A method includes presenting, by at least one processor, a configuration interface to enable creation of a presentation template. The method includes defining a number of presentation areas in the presentation template. The method includes defining a configuration setting for at least a first presentation area of the number of presentation areas, wherein the configuration setting limits a content type that is to be displayed in the first presentation area and defines a display location where the presentation area is positioned. At least one content of a number of content to be displayed in the number of presentation areas comprises wagering game play. The method includes storing, in a machine-readable medium, the presentation template.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Dale R. Buchholz, Mark C. Pace, Vikram Swamy
  • Patent number: 8827801
    Abstract: Embodiments of the inventive subject matter include detecting, by one or more processors, one or more events of a first event type, a second event type, and a third event type. Embodiments further include, in response to the detecting the one or more events of the first event type, the second event type, and the third event type, determining, by the one or more processors, non-cash awards of a first award type, second award type, and third award type, respectively, to provide to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Jeremy M. Hornik, Shridhar P. Joshi, Mark C. Pace, Larry J. Pacey, Richard T. Schwartz, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20140243099
    Abstract: Gaming devices, gaming systems, methods of configuring gaming devices, and computer programs for configuring gaming devices are featured. A gaming machine is disclosed for communicatively coupling to peer gaming machines via a peer-to-peer network. The gaming machine includes a display device(s), a processor(s), and a memory device(s) storing instructions that cause the gaming machine to: store a first set of data indicative of the gaming machine's configuration parameters and a second set of data indicative of the gaming machine's performance; receive from one or more peer gaming machines a third set of data indicative of the peer gaming machine's(s?) configuration parameters and a fourth set of data indicative of the peer gaming machine's(s?) performance; analyze the third and fourth data sets to determine modifications to the gaming machine's configuration parameters to improve machine performance; and, automatically modify at least one configuration parameter of the gaming machine based upon the analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: August 28, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Vernon W. Hamlin, Craig J. Sylla, Paul A. Quaglia, Scot W. Salzman, Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Mark C. Pace