Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090191946 | Wagering Game with Multi-Point Gesture Sensing Device - A gaming machine having a multipoint sensing device capable of sensing a multipoint gesture, which includes at least two simultaneously touched points. One or both of the points can serve as an initial starting point for a gesture, which represents a continuous movement across the multipoint sensing device. The multipoint sensing device produces data representing a multipoint gesture, which data is analyzed to determine a wagering-game function to be executed. For example, the wagering-game function may be selecting a payline by touching two distinct points in a slot-type wagering game. Another function may be increasing a bonus award by dragging two fingers in opposite directions. Yet another function may be selecting a bonus award amount by holding one finger while dragging another ringer to aim at a target representing multiple bonus award amounts, one of those amounts being revealed to the player upon release of the other finger. | 07-30-2009 |
20100016066 | STORING DATA IN WAGERING GAME SYSTEMS - Systems, methods, and apparatus for storing wagering game data are described herein. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a wagering game unit configured to begin presentation of a wagering game and to request that wagering game data be stored. The wagering game can also be configured to wait for an indication that the wagering game data has been stored, and, after receipt of the indication, to resume presentation of the wagering game. The apparatus can also include a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) configured to store the wagering game data. The apparatus can also a hard disk drive configured to store the wagering game data. The apparatus can also include a storage controller configured to direct storage of the wagering game data in the NVRAM in response to the wagering game unit's request, to provide to the wagering game unit an indication that the wagering game data has been stored, and to direct storage of the wagering game data to the hard disk drive. | 01-21-2010 |
20100075760 | PARTITION MANAGEMENT IN A WAGERING GAME SYSTEM - A computerized wagering game system includes a gaming module operable to conduct a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered, and a nonvolatile storage module comprising two or more partitions on at least one nonvolatile storage device and a controller operable to manage the two or more partitions. | 03-25-2010 |
20100160016 | Portable Wagering Game With Vibrational Cues and Feedback Mechanism - A handheld gaming machine including one or more actuators for providing vibrational cues or feedback during play of a wagering game to indicate the occurrence of a wagering-game event, such as a change in game rules, an input of a wager, and the like. The change in game rules may include a change in the odds of winning an award during the wagering game, a change in the type of award that can be awarded during the wagering game, eligibility for bonus play, or eligibility to accumulate one or more game elements associated with the wagering game. The vibration can be consistent with a wagering-game theme and can accompany or be a substitute for concurrently played audio sounds. The actuator(s) may include a haptic device such as a haptic touchscreen that overlays the display or an electromagnetic coil acting upon an unbalanced mass. | 06-24-2010 |
20100217992 | COMPOUNDING SECURITY WITH A SECURITY DONGLE - Exposure of a security mechanism, over time and/or in particular markets, increases the likelihood that the security mechanism will be compromised. A security dongle, however, can resist/delay being comprised by compounding one or more security techniques with the security dongle security mechanism (e.g., a unique identifier of the dongle stored in a secure area of the dongle, a cryptographic token with a private key that cannot be retrieved from the memory of the security dongle, etc.). A dynamic element (e.g., a changing key) and/or an unexposed element (e.g., a private key secured by an owner) can be used in conjunction with a security dongle to buttress against being compromised. Using the dynamic element and/or the unexposed element, the security dongle can be cryptographically bound to at least an identifier of a piece of software enabled by the security dongle. | 08-26-2010 |
20100222141 | CONTROLLING MODES IN WAGERING GAME SYSTEMS - A mode control device in a wagering game network is described herein. The mode control device can be used to control operational modes on a machine within the wagering game network. The mode control device can interface with the machine and gather criteria affecting which of the operational modes can be activated on the machine. Additionally, the mode control device can select, based on the criteria, allowable modes from the operational modes. Furthermore, the mode control device can notify the machine about the allowable modes. In addition, mode control device can select, activate, limit, enhance, or in any other way control the modes on the machine. In some embodiments, the mode control device can also control the modes on other devices associated with the machine in the wagering game network. | 09-02-2010 |
20100234100 | SECURE MODE CONTROL IN WAGERING GAME SYSTEMS - A secure mode control device is described herein. The secure mode control device interfaces with a wagering game machine. The wagering game machine is capable of secure modes. The wagering game machine is also capable of wagering game modes that can generate wagering game data. The secure mode control device can detect an event that indicates a need for the wagering game machine to activate a secure mode. The secure mode control device activates the secure mode to halt the one or more wagering game modes on the wagering game machine. | 09-16-2010 |
20100248818 | GAMING SYSTEM HAVING PASSIVE PLAYER PARTICIPATION IN SECONDARY WAGERING GAMES - A gaming system comprises a wager input device for receiving a primary wager from a player, the player associated with a player account, and at least one display for displaying a primary wagering game and a secondary wagering game. Secondary wagering game outcomes are independent of the primary wagering game. The system further comprises a controller operative to cause the at least one display to display a randomly selected outcome of the primary wagering game; upon the occurrence of a first triggering event, enter a player into the secondary wagering game, wherein the player is represented in the secondary wagering game by a player avatar; upon the occurrence of a second triggering event, end the player's participation in the secondary wagering game; award the player any awards collected by the player avatar in the secondary wagering game; and credit the player account by the amount of the collected awards. | 09-30-2010 |
20110117984 | AUTHENTICATING COMPONENTS IN WAGERING GAME SYSTEMS - In some embodiments, a processor includes a plurality of local stores configured to store wagering game assets and at least part of a wagering game controller, and to store authentication keys for use in authenticating the wagering game controller and the wagering game assets; a plurality of processing elements, wherein each processing element is coupled to one of the local stores, each processing element configured to present wagering games by executing the wagering game controller; at least one authentication controller including hardware configured to authenticate, using the authentication keys, the wagering game controller and wagering game assets; a storage device in communication with the processor, the storage device configured to store the wagering game controller and wagering game assets, wherein the wagering game assets include audio and video content for use in presenting the wagering games. | 05-19-2011 |
20110183745 | MANAGING CASHLESS WAGERING GAME SYSTEMS - This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods for managing of cashless wagering game systems. An apparatus comprises a first cashless wagering game media input device, operable to access a first cashless wagering game medium associated with a first cashless wagering system; a second cashless wagering game media input device, operable to access a second cashless wagering game medium associated with a second cashless wagering system; and a control module operable to: receive a transfer amount, the transfer amount associated with the first cashless wagering game medium and to be debited from the first cashless wagering system; and credit at least a portion of the transfer amount to the second cashless wagering system. | 07-28-2011 |
20110212766 | CONTROLLING AND REWARDING WAGERING GAME SKILL - 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. | 09-01-2011 |
20120208619 | COMPUTER BIOS PROTECTION AND AUTHENTICATION - In some embodiments, a wagering game machine includes: a carrier board comprising a first network port and a second network port, the first network port having a first network address and the second network port having a second network address; a processor located on the carrier board; a first nonvolatile memory located on the carrier board and communicatively coupled to the first network port, the first nonvolatile memory configured to store the first network address; and a second nonvolatile memory located on the carrier board, wherein the second nonvolatile memory is configured to store Basic Input and Output System (BIOS) code that includes a system BIOS code and an application BIOS code, wherein the BIOS code is hardware write-protected, wherein the processor is configured to derive the second network address from the first network address during execution of boot-up operations of the apparatus. | 08-16-2012 |
20120252567 | MANAGING CASHLESS WAGERING GAME SYSTEMS - This document discusses, among other things, systems and methods for managing of cashless wagering game systems. An apparatus comprises a control module to debit, via a first system access technique, a debit amount from a first cashless wagering system in a financial transaction and credit, via a second system access technique different from the first system access technique, a credit amount to a second cashless wagering system in the same financial transaction, the first and second cashless wagering game systems being different from one another coupled over a network, | 10-04-2012 |
20130023337 | PLAYER HEAD TRACKING FOR WAGERING GAME CONTROL - A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include presenting a wagering game on a display device of a wagering game machine. The operations can also include detecting head movements and facial gestures of a player of the wagering game via a video capture device of the wagering game machine, and generating player input data based on the head movements and facial gestures of the player. The operations can further include modifying wagering game content based on the player input data associated with the head movements and facial gestures of the player, and presenting results of the wagering game on the display device of the wagering game machine. | 01-24-2013 |
20130053139 | WAGERING GAME MACHINE CABINET LICENSE COMPLIANCE - A cabinetmaker can create an electronic license that governs 1) components allowed to be connected to a wagering game machine and 2) functionality enabled on the wagering game machine. The electronic license (cabinet license) is bound to a wagering game machine cabinet. The cabinetmaker can load the electronic license into a secure memory area bound to the cabinet of a wagering game machine. A process (application, daemon, etc.) can perform various operations that ensure the wagering game machine complies with the cabinet license. The executable code that implements this process (license compliance code) can execute to disable components and/or functionality that do not comport with the electronic license, can execute to place the wagering game machine in a limited operation state, can execute to generate a notification of the license violation and freeze the wagering game machine, etc. | 02-28-2013 |
20130267312 | ORDERED LOADING OF WAGERING GAME ASSETS INTO MEMORY - A method includes determining a load order for loading game assets into a cache memory of a wagering game machine, wherein the game assets comprise data used for presentation of a wagering game at the wagering game machine. The game assets are accessible by a processor in the wagering game machine from the cache memory for presentation of the wagering game, wherein the load order is based on wagering game activity at the wagering game machine. The method includes loading the game assets into the cache memory based on the load order. The method includes accessing, by a processor in the wagering game machine, the game assets from the cache memory. The method also includes presenting, on at least one display device, the wagering game based on the game assets. | 10-10-2013 |
20140274305 | SMI FOR ELECTRONIC GAMING MACHINE SECURITY AND STABILITY - A system and method for providing security services to an electronic gaming machine (EGM) utilizes system management interrupts (SMIs) triggered by security events to invoke execution by the EGM processor of one or more SMI handlers configured to provide a security service. Security events include the opening of an access panel on the EGM, an AC power loss to the EGM, a request for security attestation, a request for a secure encryption key, and other events requiring a secure operation to be carried out. | 09-18-2014 |
20140295952 | GAMING SYSTEM HAVING PASSIVE PLAYER PARTICIPATION IN SECONDARY WAGERING GAMES - A gaming system comprises a wager input device for receiving a primary wager from a player, the player associated with a player account, and at least one display for displaying a primary wagering game and a secondary wagering game. Secondary wagering game outcomes are independent of the primary wagering game. The system further comprises a controller operative to cause the at least one display to display a randomly selected outcome of the primary wagering game; upon the occurrence of a first triggering event, enter a player into the secondary wagering game, wherein the player is represented in the secondary wagering game by a player avatar; upon the occurrence of a second triggering event, end the player?s participation in the secondary wagering game; award the player any awards collected by the player avatar in the secondary wagering game; and credit the player account by the amount of the collected awards. | 10-02-2014 |
20140323206 | METHODS OF TRANSFERRING FUNDS IN A CASHLESS WAGERING SYSTEM - A method for depositing funds associated with a wagering game ticket in a player account via a mobile device is described herein. In some embodiments, the method can include receiving an image of a wagering game ticket, wherein a monetary value is associated with the wagering game ticket. The method can further include determining a player account, wherein the monetary value is to be deposited in the player account. The method can further include determining, based on the image, a ticket identifier associated with the wagering game ticket. The method can further include transmitting, to a ticketing server, the ticket identifier associated with the wagering game ticket. The method can further include receiving, from the ticketing server, an indication of the monetary value associated with the wagering game ticket. The method can further include depositing, in the player account, the monetary value associated with the wagering game ticket. | 10-30-2014 |
20150065231 | METHODS OF TRANSFERRING FUNDS IN A CASHLESS WAGERING SYSTEM - A method for processing wagering game e-tickets is described herein. The method can include receiving, from a mobile device over a network, an indication to create an e-ticket. The method can also include determining, by a wagering game server, monetary value information for the e-ticket. The method can also include transmitting, to a ticketing server, the monetary value information; receiving, from the ticketing server, e-ticket information. The method can also include transmitting, over the network, the e-ticket information to the mobile device for generating the e-ticket. | 03-05-2015 |