Wms Gaming, Inc.

Bally Gaming, Inc.

Lnw Gaming, Inc.

Sg Gaming, Inc.

Scott H Schulhof

Mark B Gagner

Larry J Pacey

Craig Joe Sylla

Damon E Gura

Timothy C Loose

Richard T Schwartz

Michael R Bytnar

Budyanto Himawan

Mahesh Lakshmanaperumal

Krishnakumar Meluveettil

Matthew John Ward

Vernon W Hamlin

Nevin J Liber

Jason A Smith

Alfred Thomas

Joel Roger Jaffe

Daniel P Louie

Michael W Mastropietro

Brian J Barclay

Jacek A Grabiec

Jorge Luis Shimabukuro

Michael J Irby, Ii

John Francis LaSalvia

Tracey L Wright

James E Motyl

Travis L Bowers

Michael C Ward

Bruce E Urban

An example system of the present disclosure is configured to detect (e.g., by a processor of the system), in response to a wireless device being in proximity to a wagering game machine, a request to pair the wireless device with the wagering game machine. The system is further configured to, in response to detection of the request to pair the wireless device with the wagering game machine, automatically obtain, without user input, secret information from either the wireless device or from a configuration device accessible via a network. The system is further configured to generate, based on the secret information, an encryption key, and automatically pair the wireless device with the wagering game machine using the encryption key.

Persistent device relationships in wagering game systems

In some embodiments a wagering game system comprises a personal area network device configured to render media content including results of a wagering game. The system can include a wagering game machine configured to determine and provide the wagering game results to the personal area network device. The wagering game machine can include a personal area network device transceiver configured to exchange data with the personal area network device, the data including the wagering game results, and a personal area network controller configured to detect the personal area network device, to procure an identification code for the personal area network device without player input, and to authenticate the personal area network device by use of the identification code. The system can also include a repository configured to store the identification code in association with a player identifier and to provide the identification code to the wagering game machine upon request.

A patron flow system aggregates wagering game data from a plurality of wagering game machines in a wagering game establishment. The wagering game data indicates a plurality of patrons and times. Patron flow data is generated from the aggregated wagering game data. The patron flow data indicate flows of the plurality of patrons among the plurality of wagering game machines in the wagering game establishment with respect to the times.

Visualizing wagering game establishment patron flow

A secure architecture can provide a wagering game establishment access to the utility and entertainment value of online social communities. An architecture that employs an internal entity that controls import and export of data ('import/export controller') and an external entity that operates as a liaison ('data liaison') between the import/export controller and one or more online social communities allows this access in a secure manner. The import/export controller and the data liaison handle data transmissions (e.g., data streams, data updates, etc.) between the secure entity and the one or more online social communities. The import/export controller applies rules that regulate import and export of data, and the data liaison allows the import/export controller to operate in obscurity. Funneling data transmissions through the import/export controller and the data liaison allows players to securely access an online social community from a wagering game machine while in a wagering game establishment.

Wagering game establishment data import/export architecture

A secure architecture can provide a bridge between the utility and entertainment value of online properties. An architecture that employs an internal entity that controls import and export of data ('import/export controller') and an external entity that operates as a liaison ('data liaison') between the import/export controller and one or more other online properties allows this bridge in a secure manner. The import/export controller and the data liaison handle data transmissions (e.g., data feeds, data updates, etc.) between the online properties without exposing resources of the online properties. The import/export controller applies rules that regulate import and export of data, and the data liaison allows the import/export controller to operate in obscurity.

Data import/export architecture between online properties

Techniques for sharing resources in wagering game systems are described herein. Some embodiments include a method comprising: detecting, by the wagering game machine, low processing capabilities of the wagering game machine. The method can include determining, based on the detecting low processing capabilities, that remote resources are needed for processing video content associated with a wagering game. The method can include requesting, via a network, the remote resources from the remote wagering game machine. The method can also include receiving, from the remote wagering game machine via the network, processed video content for the wagering game, and presenting, on a display device, the wagering game using the processed video content.

Sharing resources in wagering game systems

This document describes inter alia a method for presenting an interface on a wagering game machine, where the interface includes a plurality of wagering game icons, and where each of the wagering game icons indicates a wagering game that is available on the wagering game machine. The method can include presenting wagering game icons in an interface, wherein the wagering game icons form a row, and wherein each wagering game icon occupies a position in the row, and detecting a sweeping screen touch on a touch screen. The method can also include shifting, based on the sweeping screen touch, the wagering game icons to different positions in the row, where the shifting causes a wagering game icon at an end position in the row to disappear from the interface, and where the shifting also causes a new wagering game icon to appear at another end position in the row.

Interface for wagering game environments

A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include receiving login information to log in to an online gaming venue and determining a player account associated with the login information. The operations can also include presenting the online gaming venue on a personal computing device associated with the player account. The online gaming venue can include casino related data that indicates ambience of a gambling environment (e.g., a casino, a poker room, etc.), interactive objects to interact with the player account, and communication functions to share recorded activity and other personal information, between the player account and other player accounts within the online gaming venue. In some embodiments, the operations can also include determining indications of player emotions and presenting multi-media files in conjunction with player avatars to represent the indicated emotions within the online gaming venue.

Controlling and presenting online wagering games

In some embodiments, a wagering game server includes an options visualization controller configured to receive search criteria and filter information for searching wagering titles, wherein the search is based on the search criteria and filter information. The server may include a game content unit configured to store the wagering game titles. The wagering game system can also include a wagering game machine configured to present the one or more wagering games in a visual map, the visual map comprising nodes that contain summary information associated with the wagering game titles, wherein the nodes are arranged in node groups, and wherein the node groups are graphically connected by graphical connectors. The wagering game machine can present a movable filter object configured to visually depict a filter criteria, wherein the movable filter object is movable onto one or more of the nodes to provide the filtering information to the wagering game server.

Visually presenting wagering game options

A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include detecting, via one or more sensory devices of a wagering game table, one or more game events associated with a wagering table game being played by a plurality of players on the wagering game table. The operations can also include determining that the one or more game events trigger a secondary game for the plurality of players playing the wagering table game, and presenting the secondary game on a plurality of display devices of the wagering game table. The operations can further include detecting, via one or more input devices of the wagering game table, player input associated with the secondary game, determining results associated with the secondary game based, at least in part, on the player input, and presenting the results associated with the secondary game on the plurality of display devices.

Secondary game mechanism for wagering game tables

Techniques for sharing resources in wagering game systems are described herein. In some embodiments, a method includes determining that remote resources are needed for processing video content associated with a wagering game, and locating the remote resources by wirelessly communicating with one or more wagering game machines in the wagering game network, wherein the wireless communications include queries about whether the wagering game machines can provide the needed processing resources. The method can also include receiving processed video content via wireless communications with certain of the one or more wagering game machines, and presenting the wagering game using the processed video content.

A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In embodiments, the operations can include presenting a skill-based wagering game on a wagering game machine. The skill-based wagering game can have a limited winnable award amount for the skill-based wagering game. The operations can also include tracking skilled game goals that a player accomplishes during the skill-based wagering game and awarding the player from the limited winnable award amount. The operations can also include determining a surplus amount that was not earned from the limited winnable award amount, and awarding some, or all, of the surplus amount during subsequent activity. In some embodiments, the operations can also include allocating the surplus amount to wagering game pools, distributing the surplus amount as tokens based on triggered activities, and presenting game modifiers that enable players to enhance performance in a skill-based game.

Controlling and rewarding wagering game skill

An architecture that employs an internal entity that controls import and export of data ('import/export controller') and an external entity that operates as a liaison ('data liaison') between the import/export controller and one or more online social communities allows online social community access in a secure manner. The import/export controller and the data liaison handle data transmissions (e.g., data feeds, data updates, etc.) between the secure entity and the one or more online social communities. The import/export controller applies rules that regulate import and export of data, and the data liaison allows the import/export controller to operate in obscurity. Funneling data transmissions through the import/export controller and the data liaison allows players to securely access an online social community from a wagering game machine while in a wagering game establishment.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Scott H Schulhof