Patents by Inventor William A. Hoefferle

William A. Hoefferle 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).

  • Publication number: 20140228110
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for authenticating content in wagering game machines are described herein. In one embodiment, the computer-implemented method includes authenticating a first set of wagering game files stored on a storage device of a wagering game machine. The method can also include starting a wagering game on the wagering game machine if the authentication of the first set of wagering game files is successful. The method can also include authenticating, during the wagering game, a second set of wagering game files stored on the storage device of the wagering game machine, wherein the first set of wagering game files and the second set of wagering game files are mutually exclusive. The method can also include stopping the wagering game if the authentication of the second set of wagering game files is not successful.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Peter R. Anderson, Steven M. Campbell, Mark B. Gagner, William Hoefferle, Mark C. Pace, Chad A. Ryan, Craig J. Sylla
  • Patent number: 8702502
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for authenticating content in wagering game machines are described herein. In one embodiment, the computer-implemented method includes authenticating a first set of wagering game files stored on a storage device of a wagering game machine. The method can also include starting a wagering game on the wagering game machine if the authentication of the first set of wagering game files is successful. The method can also include authenticating, during the wagering game, a second set of wagering game files stored on the storage device of the wagering game machine, wherein the first set of wagering game files and the second set of wagering game files are mutually exclusive. The method can also include stopping the wagering game if the authentication of the second set of wagering game files is not successful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Peter R. Anderson, Steven Mark Campbell, Mark B. Gagner, William Hoefferle, Mark C Pace, Chad A. Ryan, Craig J. Sylla
  • Patent number: 8317592
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes manufacturer-limited parameter values or parameter value combinations selectable by an operator during gaming machine set-up. The parameter values preferably include different maximum pay lines associated with different denominations and are limited to those which have been determined by the manufacturer to provide optimum game play. The different maximum pay lines may be associated with different math models having substantially the same payback percentage values. Subsequent operator selection of the parameter values during gaming machine setup allows the gaming machine having a single game theme or a gaming machine having multiple game themes to be configured with different maximum pay lines for each single game theme. Thus, the player can play a single theme wagering game with a first maximum pay line value and with a second maximum pay line value where the second maximum pay line value differs from the first maximum pay line value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Brandon C. Estes, Christian P. Gyrling, William A. Hoefferle, Shridhar P. Joshi
  • Publication number: 20090221359
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for authenticating content in wagering game machines are described herein. In one embodiment, the computer-implemented method includes authenticating a first set of wagering game files stored on a storage device of a wagering game machine. The method can also include starting a wagering game on the wagering game machine if the authentication of the first set of wagering game files is successful. The method can also include authenticating, during the wagering game, a second set of wagering game files stored on the storage device of the wagering game machine, wherein the first set of wagering game files and the second set of wagering game files are mutually exclusive. The method can also include stopping the wagering game if the authentication of the second set of wagering game files is not successful.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Srinivyasa M. Adiraju, Peter R. Anderson, Steven Mark Campbell, Mark B. Gagner, William Hoefferle, Mark C. Pace, Chad A. Ryan, Craig J. Sylla
  • Publication number: 20080102932
    Abstract: The invention provides a gaming machine having manufacturer-limited parameter values or parameter value combinations selectable by an operator during gaming machine set-up. The parameter values preferably include different maximum pay lines associated with different denominations and are limited to those which have been determined by the manufacturer to provide optimum game play. The different maximum pay lines may be associated with different math models having substantially the same payback percentage values. Subsequent operator selection of the parameter values during gaming machine therefore setup allows the gaming machine having a single game theme or a gaming machine having multiple game themes to be configured with different maximum pay lines for each single game theme. As a result, the player can play a single theme wagering game with a first maximum pay line value and with a second maximum pay line value where the second maximum pay line value differs from the first maximum pay line value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Publication date: May 1, 2008
    Inventors: Peter Anderson, Brandon Estes, Christian Gyrling, William Hoefferle, Shridhar Joshi
  • Patent number: 7311601
    Abstract: The invention provides a gaming machine having manufacturer-limited parameter values or parameter value combinations selectable by an operator during gaming machine set-up. The parameter values preferably include different maximum pay lines associated with different denominations and are limited to those which have been determined by the manufacturer to provide optimum game play. The different maximum pay lines may be associated with different math models having substantially the same payback percentage values. Subsequent operator selection of the parameter values during gaming machine therefore setup allows the gaming machine having a single game theme or a gaming machine having multiple game themes to be configured with different maximum pay lines for each single game theme. As a result, the player can play a single theme wagering game with a first maximum pay line value and with a second maximum pay line value where the second maximum pay line value differs from the first maximum pay line value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Brandon C. Estes, Christian P. Gyrling, William A. Hoefferle, Shridhar P. Joshi
  • Publication number: 20050049037
    Abstract: The invention provides a gaming machine having manufacturer-limited parameter values or parameter value combinations selectable by an operator during gaming machine set-up. The parameter values preferably include different maximum pay lines associated with different denominations and are limited to those which have been determined by the manufacturer to provide optimum game play. The different maximum pay lines may be associated with different math models having substantially the same payback percentage values. Subsequent operator selection of the parameter values during gaming machine therefore setup allows the gaming machine having a single game theme or a gaming machine having multiple game themes to be configured with different maximum pay lines for each single game theme. As a result, the player can play a single theme wagering game with a first maximum pay line value and with a second maximum pay line value where the second maximum pay line value differs from the first maximum pay line value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventors: Peter Anderson, Brandon Estes, Christian Gyrling, William Hoefferle, Shridhar Joshi