Patents by Inventor Travis N. Nelson

Travis N. Nelson 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: 9595164
    Abstract: A method for persistent casino-style gameplay is described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include presenting, a gaming session to a user, wherein the gaming session includes casino-style games and is associated with a user profile. The operations can also include recording information about the casino-style games during the gaming session. The operations can also include detecting a request for an in-advertisement casino-style game, wherein the in-advertisement casino-style game will appear on a webpage. The operations can also include transmitting for presentation on the webpage as part of the in-advertisement casino-style game, first content configured to receive information identifying the user. The operations can also include receiving the information identifying the user profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Richard B. Robbins, Travis N. Nelson, Nickey C. Shin
  • Patent number: 9552691
    Abstract: Systems, methods and machine-readable media operate on configuration data for wagering game machines. A wagering game machine configuration or meter data on a wagering game machine is modified. In response to the modification, the configuration data or meter data is transformed into a displayable code such as a bar code or QR (Quick Response) code. The wagering game machine presents the displayable code on a code display of the wagering game machine. A portable computing device reads the displayable code and uses the displayable code to compare the configuration data with configuration data obtained from other wagering game machines or configuration data obtained from a configuration server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Travis N. Nelson, Peter R. Anderson, Sridhar Gondesi, Jacek A. Grabiec, Matthew J. Ward
  • Patent number: 9286759
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described. In some embodiments, the operations include detecting an indication of a benefit available to a first player account via a wagering game venue; and selecting a second player account linked to the first player account as a social contact. The operations can further include configuring a persistent object to provide access to the benefit available to the first player account; and transferring the persistent object from the first player account to the second player account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Andrew C. Guinn, Travis N. Nelson, Richard B. Robbins, Danijel Stankovic, John R. Werneke
  • Patent number: 9245410
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include transmitting an offer of a reward to deposit funds into a wagering game player account prior to initiating a wagering game session within a gaming venue, such as a physical gamine venue (e.g., a casino). In one example, the offer is transmitted to a computing device accessible outside the gaming venue. The operations can further include detecting player input associated with the offer, where the player input authorizes a transfer of the funds from a financial account for deposit into the wagering game player account. The operations can further include transferring of the funds specified via the player input from the financial account to the wagering game player account. The operations can further include assigning the reward to the wagering game player account in response to the transferring of the funds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Andrew C. Guinn, Jeremy M. Hornik, Travis N. Nelson
  • Patent number: 9218718
    Abstract: A method comprises receiving a feed of a number of messages providing notification of wagering game activity, wherein the wagering game activity occurred via at least one of a wagering game machine at a wagering game establishment and an online wagering game website. The method includes storing the number of messages. The method includes filtering the number of messages to create a subset of messages, wherein the filtering is based on at least one of an operator criteria and a player criteria. The operator criteria and the player criteria comprises at least one of a jackpot win, a progressive win, an entry into a bonus round, and a win where a monetary amount won exceeds a threshold multiplier of an amount wagered. The method includes publishing the subset of messages to a computing device associated with the wagering game player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Andrew C. Guinn, Travis N. Nelson, Richard B. Robbins, John R. Werneke
  • Publication number: 20140342820
    Abstract: Systems, methods and machine-readable media operate on configuration data for wagering game machines. A wagering game machine configuration or meter data on a wagering game machine is modified. In response to the modification, the configuration data or meter data is transformed into a displayable code such as a bar code or QR (Quick Response) code. The wagering game machine presents the displayable code on a code display of the wagering game machine. A portable computing device reads the displayable code and uses the displayable code to compare the configuration data with configuration data obtained from other wagering game machines or configuration data obtained from a configuration server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming
    Inventors: Travis N. Nelson, Peter R. Anderson, Sridhar Gondesi, Jacek A. Grabiec, Matthew J. Ward
  • Publication number: 20140342833
    Abstract: A method for persistent casino-style gameplay is described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include presenting, a gaming session to a user, wherein the gaming session includes casino-style games and is associated with a user profile. The operations can also include recording information about the casino-style games during the gaming session. The operations can also include detecting a request for an in-advertisement casino-style game, wherein the in-advertisement casino-style game will appear on a webpage. The operations can also include transmitting for presentation on the webpage as part of the in-advertisement casino-style game, first content configured to receive information identifying the user. The operations can also include receiving the information identifying the user profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Robbins, Travis N. Nelson, Nickey C. Shin
  • Patent number: 8845417
    Abstract: Systems and methods for determining bad beats in wagering games are disclosed. If the bad beat is determined to be compensable, some form of compensation is provided to the player. The compensation can include providing a free entry into a second wagering game. The second wagering game can be a site-wide wagering game in which a plurality of player may be simultaneously participating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Allon G. Englman, Andrew C. Guinn, Travis N. Nelson, James Palermo, Richard B. Robbins
  • Patent number: 8777732
    Abstract: A method includes receiving a request for placement in a queue for entry into an event. The method also includes placing the request into the queue. In response to placement of the request into the queue, the method includes presenting, on a device, a game for game play while waiting for the entry into the event. The device comprises at least one of a mobile device, a pager provided in response to requesting the placement in the queue, and a non-mobile gaming device positioned proximate to a location of the event. The method includes determining a prize for the game play of the game. In response to not entering the event, the prize is discarded. In response to entering the event, the prize is awarded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Robbins, Mary Griffin, Andrew C. Guinn, Harry C. Lang, Travis N. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20140141871
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described. In some embodiments, the operations include detecting an indication of a benefit available to a first player account via a wagering game venue; and selecting a second player account linked to the first player account as a social contact. The operations can further include configuring a persistent object to provide access to the benefit available to the first player account; and transferring the persistent object from the first player account to the second player account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Andrew C. Guinn, Travis N. Nelson, Richard B. Robbins, Danijel Stankovic, John R. Werneke
  • Publication number: 20140094241
    Abstract: Systems and methods include one or more processing devices configured to provide or send displayable content over a network to a client. The displayable content provides a wagering game system. The wagering game system includes a progressive wagering game that awards one or more progressive jackpot awards to a player. In response to social communications by the player over the network, the wagering game system provides a reward to the player, where the reward relates to the progressive wagering game or the one or more progressive jackpot awards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: WMS GAMING INC.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Guinn, Daniel P. Louie, Travis N. Nelson, Richard B. Robbins, Eric T. Ryan, Rory M. Shanahan
  • Patent number: 8671019
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described. In some embodiments, the operations include receiving a message that was published from a social-communication application of a social network website, selecting a first phrase (e.g., promotional expression, by a user, regarding the wagering game venue) from the message, and comparing the first phrase to a plurality of second phrases (e.g., characteristics associated with a wagering game venue) accessible via a wagering game server. The operations can further include detecting that the first phrase is substantially similar to at least one of the plurality of the second phrases, and providing an award (e.g., loyalty points) in response. In some embodiments, the value of the award is based on a condition associated with the message, publication of the message, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Andrew C. Guinn, Travis N. Nelson, Richard B. Robbins, Danijel Stankovic, John R. Werneke
  • Publication number: 20130281188
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a method for enabling online wagering game players to receive, while playing online wagering games, live media feeds of activities in a casino. The method can include presenting a graphical user interface including an online gaming interface and a live casino interface, wherein the online gaming interface includes lifelike computer-generated images of a wagering game machine having a display device, and computer-generated images of game elements for an online wagering game, where the game elements appear on the wagering game machine's display device. The method can also include receiving a first media feed including audio and video content portraying activities in a live casino, and presenting the media feed in the live casino interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Andrew C. Guinn, Travis N. Nelson, Richard B. Robbins, Richard T. Schwartz, Tracey L. Wright
  • Publication number: 20130210518
    Abstract: A method comprises receiving a feed of a number of messages providing notification of wagering game activity, wherein the wagering game activity occurred via at least one of a wagering game machine at a wagering game establishment and an online wagering game website. The method includes storing the number of messages. The method includes filtering the number of messages to create a subset of messages, wherein the filtering is based on at least one of an operator criteria and a player criteria. The operator criteria and the player criteria comprises at least one of a jackpot win, a progressive win, an entry into a bonus round, and a win where a monetary amount won exceeds a threshold multiplier of an amount wagered. The method includes publishing the subset of messages to a computing device associated with the wagering game player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Barclay, Andrew C. Guinn, Travis N. Nelson, Richard B. Robbins, Justin C. Weber, John R. Werneke
  • Publication number: 20130130781
    Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include transmitting an offer of a reward to deposit funds into a wagering game player account prior to initiating a wagering game session within a gaming venue, such as a physical gamine venue (e.g., a casino). In one example, the offer is transmitted to a computing device accessible outside the gaming venue. The operations can further include detecting player input associated with the offer, where the player input authorizes a transfer of the funds from a financial account for deposit into the wagering game player account. The operations can further include transferring of the funds specified via the player input from the financial account to the wagering game player account. The operations can further include assigning the reward to the wagering game player account in response to the transferring of the funds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Andrew C. Guinn, Jeremy M. Hornik, Travis N. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20130130780
    Abstract: A method includes creating an event related to a wagering game, wherein the creating of the event comprises setting a requirement for the event. The requirement includes at least one of a participatory requirement and a monetary requirement for activation of the event. The participatory requirement includes a minimum number of wagering game players required to elect participation in the event. The creating of the event also includes defining an added value wagering game activity for the wagering game players that have elected participation in the event. The added value wagering game activity comprising at least one of access of locked content of the wagering game, increased expected value for payout from the wagering game, increased value of a jackpot of the wagering game, access to a locked progressive jackpot, and access to locked bonuses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey L. Allen, Andrew C. Guinn, Travis N. Nelson, Richard B. Robbins, Pamela S. Smith