Patents by Inventor Shridhar P. Joshi

Shridhar P. Joshi 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: 8235811
    Abstract: Systems and methods for using player information in wagering game environments are described herein. In one embodiment a method includes receiving a first set of player information, where the first set of player information indicates casino activities of a player. The method can also include analyzing the first set of player information and a second set of player information to determine preferences and tendencies associated with the player. The method can also include providing an indication of the preferences and tendencies to wagering game network devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Shridhar P. Joshi, Candace Lucas, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8231464
    Abstract: Gaming machine is disclosed having a primary display and a secondary display mounted over the primary display. In one implementation, the primary display is a mechanical display and the secondary display is a transmissive display. This arrangement allows a wagering game to be displayed on the mechanical display alone, the mechanical display and the transmissive display together, or the transmissive display alone. As a result, players and casino operators have access to multiple wagering games on the same display area of the gaming machine. All three options need not be present on the gaming machine, however, and any two of the three will suffice. It is important, however, that the wagering game displayed on the transmissive display be separate and distinct from the wagering game displayed on the mechanical display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Philip B. Gelber, Shridhar P. Joshi, Larry J. Pacey, James M. Rasmussen
  • Publication number: 20120157191
    Abstract: A system determines that current wagering game establishment activity data of a user satisfies wagering game establishment offer evaluation criteria (401). The system accesses, over a network, past activity data of the user at least partially in response to determining that the current wagering game establishment activity data of the user satisfies the wagering game establishment offer evaluation criteria (403). The system analyzes the past activity data based, at least in part, on a desired effect and the current wagering game establishment activity data (405). The system computes likelihood that at least one of a set of offers can achieve the desired effect based on the analysis result (407). The system selects a first of the set of offers based, at least in part, on determining the likelihood that at least one of the set of offers can achieve the desired effect (409). The system presents the selected first offer to the user (413).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary M. Burke, Joel R. Jaffe, Shridhar P. Joshi, Daniel P. Louie, Matthew J. Ward, Brian L. Yarger
  • Patent number: 8192275
    Abstract: A gaming system comprising an input device for receiving a wager to play a wagering game. The gaming system also includes a display for displaying an array of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. In response to the randomly selected outcome including a winning symbol combination, at least one symbol that is not a part of the winning symbol combination is removed from the array and causes other symbols to move into a position of the array vacated by the at least one removed symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, Allon G. Englman, Joel R. Jaffe, Shridhar P. Joshi, Larry J. Pacey, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 8187088
    Abstract: A method of funding features of a wagering game, comprises receiving a first sum of money generated from extra-casino activity associated with at least one person and depositing the first sum into a feature fund. The method further comprises allocating the first sum to at least one account of the feature fund in accordance with a first rule set. The method further comprises, in response to a triggering event, withdrawing a second sum of money from the at least one account. The method further comprises funding at least one feature associated with the wagering game from the second sum of money and activating the funded feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Jeremy M. Hornik, Shridhar P. Joshi, Larry J. Pacey
  • Patent number: 8177644
    Abstract: A gaming system and method of conducting a wagering game having a fantasy-sports feature on a gaming system is disclosed. A wager is received from a user to play the wagering game. A roster having one or more player is created, via user selection. A projected team score and an actual team score for the created roster are determined. A ratio is calculated for the actual team score to the projected team score. An award is provided to the user if the calculated ratio meets a predetermined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Rory L. Block, Joel R. Jaffe, Shridhar P. Joshi, Vincent Chan, Patrick H. Kelley, Richard T. Schwartz, Byron A. Uytiepo
  • Publication number: 20120088567
    Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a game display. A transmissive display is positioned in front of the game display directly in the player's line of sight including game-play regions at which symbols appear and regions above, below, between, and to the sides the game-play regions. The transmissive display is operable to selectively display transparent, translucent and opaque video images over the game display. The transparent, translucent and opaque video images may be used to change, for example, a play mechanic associated with the wagering game and any reel symbols associated with wagering game. The transmissive display may also be used to provide interactive player control and player selection elements for the wagering game and to facilitate player inputs to the gaming machine. The transmissive display may be further used to provide bonus features associated with a bonus game played at the gaming machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, John D. Flint, Philip B. Gelber, Benjamin T. Gomez, Jeremy M. Hornik, Joel R. Jaffe, Shridhar P. Joshi, Larry J. Pacey, Jamie W. Vann
  • Patent number: 8147323
    Abstract: A gaming machine having features for increasing player appeal is set forth. The machine generally includes a processor, a display, and a memory device. The processor randomly selects one of a plurality of outcomes of the gaming machine in response to a wager. The display displays visual elements to be viewed by the player. The memory device is coupled to the processor and stores at least two data sets for producing at least two different types of visual and/or audio elements in the basic game or bonus game, or at least two different types of bonus game formats. The processor selects one of the two data sets in response to the occurrence of a predetermined time, a number of wager inputs by players of the gaming machine, or after determining a favorite play content based on the number of wager inputs by players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Shridhar P. Joshi, David K. Locke, Marc A. Raneses
  • Patent number: 8147320
    Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a wagering game includes a progressive jackpot awarded in response to a jackpot win event. The gaming system includes a first gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot, the first gaming machine accepting a first wager. The gaming system further includes a second gaming machine linked to the progressive jackpot, the second gaming machine accepting a second wager that is greater than the first wager. A first player making the first wager at the first gaming machine is awarded the progressive jackpot if the jackpot win event is associated with the first gaming machine. A second player making the second wager at the second gaming machine is awarded the progressive jackpot plus an expected value equalizing award if the jackpot win event is associated with the second gaming machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Allon G Englman, Joel R. Jaffe, Shridhar P. Joshi, Michael W. Mastropietro, Christopher J. Frattinger
  • Publication number: 20120071226
    Abstract: A method of conducting a wagering game on a gaming system, the method including receiving an indication of a wager and displaying outcomes of wagering games on at least one display device in response to a wager indication being received, the displayed outcomes being randomly generated by at least one processor. The method also including accumulating a bonus-event playing time upon satisfying at least one predetermined condition as the wagering games are played, initiating a bonus game in which a player is eligible to receive awards for a period of time, determining, via at least one processor, the accumulated playing time accrued prior to the initiation of the bonus game, allowing the player to participate in the bonus game for at least as long as the accumulated playing time and providing any awards earned by the player during their participation in the bonus game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Larry J. Pacey, Joel R. Jaffe, Shridhar P. Joshi, Allon G. Englman, Peter R. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8137180
    Abstract: A method for playing a wagering game on a gaming terminal. The wagering game allows a player to be eligible to win a plurality of progressive jackpots. The plurality of progressive jackpots can be arranged in columns and rows of a matrix, or can be displayed with other characteristics for identification, such as color, shapes, or alpha-numeric characters. The method includes conducting a wagering game having a randomly selected outcome. The player can be awarded two progressive jackpots in response to the randomly selected outcome being a single multiple-jackpot winning outcome. Further, the progressive jackpots that are achieved can be identified by their associated characteristics, which are displayed to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Thomas, Shridhar P. Joshi, Peter R. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8118668
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems, architectures, and methods provide instrumentality to assign a game instance as an account owner in a gaming system and to convey owner functions in the gaming system to the game instance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Shridhar P. Joshi, Erhard W. Rathsack
  • Publication number: 20120021814
    Abstract: Dynamic user testing implemented in a wager gaming environment allows new content to be tested on-the-fly, and allows the content presented on the wagering game machines to be accordingly varied, while live, based on the dynamic user testing of the new content. Such dynamic user testing allows the new content to be tested without implementing expensive testing processes. Moreover, the new content can be provided on-the-fly for presentation on the wagering game machines without affecting an ongoing wagering game or taking the wagering game machines offline if the new content is determined to be more successful than the current content. Dynamic user testing allows a wager gaming environment to collect data for creating new wagering games, for promoting wagering games, and for testing new content across multiple platforms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Danilo Gurovich, Shridhar P. Joshi, Mark C. Pace
  • Patent number: 8057294
    Abstract: A gaming system for playing a wagering game and a community-event includes a plurality of gaming machines configured to participate in a community-event game. A controller is configured to determine eligibility of each of the plurality of gaming machines to play a community-event. At least one of the plurality of gaming machines is configured to determine a randomly selected community-event outcome for a community-event and to transmit a signal related to the community-event outcome to an eligible gaming machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Larry J. Pacey, Joel R. Jaffe, Shridhar P. Joshi, Allon G. Englman, Peter R. Anderson
  • Patent number: 8033906
    Abstract: A gaming terminal and method of playing a wagering game. The terminal including a wagering game having a plurality of symbols that indicate a randomly selected outcome of the wagering game. The wagering game provides the player with an option to accept an invitation immediately redeemable for playing the wagering game or an invitation to a wagering game opportunity redeemable at a subsequent gaming session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Shridhar P. Joshi, Peter W. Flemming, Benjamin T. Gomez, Richard T. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20110244960
    Abstract: A gaming machine having features for increasing player appeal is set forth. The machine generally includes a processor, a display, and a memory device. The processor randomly selects one of a plurality of outcomes of the gaming machine in response to a wager. The display displays visual elements to be viewed by the player. The memory device is coupled to the processor and stores at least two data sets for producing at least two different types of visual and/or audio elements in the basic game or bonus game, or at least two different types of bonus game formats. The processor selects one of the two data sets in response to the occurrence of a predetermined time, a number of wager inputs by players of the gaming machine, or after determining a favorite play content based on the number of wager inputs by players.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Shridhar P. Joshi, David K. Locke, Marc A. Raneses
  • Publication number: 20110218044
    Abstract: A wagering game system and operations are described herein. The operations can include presenting selectable casino content on a casino display device and determining a selection of the casino content (e.g., by a wagering game player account, by a casino patron, etc.). The operations can further include determining data from the selectable casino content, such as viewable portions of the casino content or metadata associated with casino content. The operations can further include sending the data to be saved in a user accessible storage, such as to a user accessible storage device or a web account associated with a casino user or social contact. In some embodiments, the operations can also include analyzing the selected casino content to generate analytics that can be used to determine targeted content (e.g., targeted advertisements, targeted wagering games, etc.) that can be presented or suggested to a wagering game player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Shridhar P. Joshi, Jeremie D. Moll, Larry J. Pacey, Richard T. Schwartz
  • Publication number: 20110207521
    Abstract: A gaming machine having features for increasing player appeal is set forth. The machine generally includes a processor, a display, and a memory device. The processor randomly selects one of a plurality of outcomes of the gaming machine in response to a wager. The display displays visual elements to be viewed by the player. The memory device is coupled to the processor and stores at least two data sets for producing at least two different types of visual and/or audio elements in the basic game or bonus game, or at least two different types of bonus game formats. The processor selects one of the two data sets in response to the occurrence of a predetermined time, a number of wager inputs by players of the gaming machine, or after determining a favorite play content based on the number of wager inputs by players.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Shridhar P. Joshi, David K. Locke, Marc A. Raneses
  • Publication number: 20110117987
    Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a primary display and a secondary display. A transmissive display is positioned in front of the primary display directly in the player's line of sight. The transmissive display is operable to selectively display transparent, translucent and opaque video images over the primary display. The transparent, translucent and opaque video images may be used to change, for example, a play mechanic associated with the wagering game and any reel symbols associated with wagering game. The transmissive display may also be used to provide interactive player control and player selection elements for the wagering game and to facilitate player inputs to the gaming machine. Where the gaming machine includes a bonus game, the transmissive display may be further used to provide bonus features associated with the gaming machine. In some embodiments, the transmissive display may also be positioned over the secondary display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Dion K. Aoki, John D. Flint, Philip B. Gelber, Benjamin T. Gomez, Jeremy M. Hornik, Joel R. Jaffe, Shridhar P. Joshi, Larry J. Pacey
  • Patent number: 7934989
    Abstract: A gaming machine having features for increasing player appeal is set forth. The machine generally includes a processor, a display, and a memory device. The processor randomly selects one of a plurality of outcomes of the gaming machine in response to a wager. The display displays visual elements to be viewed by the player. The memory device is coupled to the processor and stores at least two data sets for producing at least two different types of visual and/or audio elements in the basic game or bonus game, or at least two different types of bonus game formats. The processor selects one of the two data sets in response to the occurrence of a predetermined time, a number of wager inputs by players of the gaming machine, or after determining a favorite play content based on the number of wager inputs by players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Shridhar P. Joshi, David K. Locke, Marc A. Raneses