Patents by Inventor Dov L. Randall

Dov L. Randall 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: 6971954
    Abstract: The present invention provides an interactive, ongoing bonus game that operates at the same time as a base game of a gaming device and thereby enhances a player's award. The present invention provides one or more graduating multiplier or modifier displays, wherein the displays designate a position of value for each modifier. When certain symbols or combinations of symbols appear on the reels of the gaming device, the present invention modifies either the player's base game wager or a base game payout by the designated value of one of the modifiers. When certain other symbols or combinations of symbols appear on the reels of the gaming device, the present invention increases the designated value position for one or more of the modifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Dov L. Randall, Peter Gerrard
  • Patent number: 6971953
    Abstract: A gaming device having a plurality of goals, at least one destination goal, a player goal indicator, an award associated with the destination goal which is provided to the player if the player goal indicator reaches the destination goal, a setback condition associated with one of the goals, wherein when the player goal indicator moves to the goal having the associated setback condition, the player goal indicator is relocated to one of the goals further from the destination goal based on the setback condition, an advance condition associated with one of the goals, wherein when the player goal indicator moves to the goal having the advance condition, the player goal indicator is relocated to one of the goals closer to the destination goal based on the advance condition, and a plurality of offers associated with the goals, wherein the player is enabled to accept or reject the offer associated with goal of the player goal indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Peter Gerrard, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Dov L. Randall
  • Patent number: 6908383
    Abstract: A bonus scheme for a gaming device which involves a symbol marker which advances along one or more paths. The paths include a plurality of symbols and one or more path change conditions. If a path change condition occurs, the symbol marker moves from one path to a different path. While advancing along certain paths, the player has the opportunity to gain bonus value depending upon which symbol the symbol marker visits. This type of bonus scheme increases player excitement for gaming devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Peter Gerrard, Dov L. Randall
  • Publication number: 20040229690
    Abstract: A video monitor displays a video simulation of a coin-operated player-operable entertainment machine. The video simulation can be selected from a range of simulations of different machines using a player-operable selector and a menu. The video simulations are derived from an internet web server to which the monitor is connected. The player can play a game with the selected video-simulated machine after providing game-playing credit. The machine may have symbol-bearing reels which display rotating symbol sequences and come to rest to display a combination of selected symbols which, if a winning combination, results in a pay-out. The symbols may be selected from greater numbers of symbols that are contained in the rotating sequences. Also compensation may be used to maintain the pay-out percentage within a desired range. Usage of individual machines may be monitored to assess, for example, commercial viability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Publication date: November 18, 2004
    Inventor: Dov L. Randall
  • Patent number: 6808454
    Abstract: A gaming device having a plurality of locations, at least one destination location, a player symbol, an award associated with the destination location which is provided to the player if the player symbol reaches the destination location, a setback condition associated with one of the locations, wherein when the player symbol moves to the location having the associated setback condition, the player symbol is relocated to one of the locations further from the destination location based on the setback condition, an advance condition associated with one of the locations, wherein when the player symbol moves to the location having the advance condition, the player symbol is relocated to one of the locations closer to the destination location based on the advance condition, and a plurality of offers associated with the locations, wherein the player is enabled to accept or reject the offer associated with location of the player symbol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2004
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Peter Gerrard, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Dov L. Randall
  • Patent number: 6786820
    Abstract: A gaming device having a plurality of locations, at least one destination location, a player symbol, an award associated with the destination location which is provided to the player if the player symbol reaches the destination location, a setback condition associated with one of the locations, wherein when the player symbol moves to the location having the associated setback condition, the player symbol is relocated to one of the locations further from the destination location based on the setback condition, an advance condition associated with one of the locations, wherein when the player symbol moves to the location having the advance condition, the player symbol is relocated to one of the locations closer to the destination location based on the advance condition, and a plurality of awards associated with the locations, wherein the award associated with one of the locations is provided to the player if the player does not reach the destination location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Peter Gerrard, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Dov L. Randall
  • Publication number: 20040147306
    Abstract: A gaming device and method having a game with multiple player selectable award opportunities. In one embodiment, the gaming device displays a plurality of groups to a player. Each of the groups include related award opportunities. An indicator simultaneously indicates at least two of the award opportunities in one of the groups. In an alternative embodiment, components of an award opportunity are accumulated in an accumulated award opportunity. The accumulated award opportunity is indicated along with at least one other award opportunity. The player chooses one of the indicated award opportunities and receives the outcome which results from the indicated award opportunity picked by the player. In one embodiment, the average expected values of the outcomes which result from the indicated award opportunities in each group are approximately equal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Dov L. Randall, Peter Gerrard, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Peter J. A. Marsh, Tonja M. Peterson
  • Publication number: 20040053669
    Abstract: A gaming device including a game which displays a plurality of symbols to a player. A probability of being selected by the processor is associated with each of the symbols. Additionally, at least two picks of the symbols are provided to the player where the number of picks is less than the number of symbols. In a game, the processor randomly picks the symbols for the number of picks provided to the player. The player receives any awards associated with the symbols picked by the processor. The processor then eliminates the picked symbols from further selection in the game. Eliminating the picked symbols increases the probabilities associated with the unpicked symbols for future picks based on the probabilities associated with the picked symbols. The player continues to pick selections until there are no picks remaining in the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Peter Gerrard, Dov L. Randall
  • Publication number: 20040048649
    Abstract: A gaming device and method having a game with multiple player selectable award opportunities. In one embodiment, the gaming device displays a plurality of groups to a player. Each of the groups include related award opportunities. An indicator simultaneously indicates at least two of the award opportunities in one of the groups. The player chooses one of the indicated award opportunities and receives the outcome which results from the indicated award opportunity picked by the player. In one embodiment, the average expected values of the outcomes which result from the indicated award opportunities in each group are approximately equal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Tonja M. Peterson, Dov L. Randall, Peter Gerrard, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Peter J. A. Marsh
  • Publication number: 20040048644
    Abstract: A gaming device having a skill game event that does not disadvantage an unskilled or inexperienced player. In general, the gaming device levels the playing field for all players by taking some or all the player's losses from the skill game event and distributing them to a progressive payout. That is, when a player loses a skill event, the player can recover or recoup the loss in later play of the gaming device of the present invention. The gaming device may be adapted to distribute the losses into a progressive payout associated with the skill game event, a different randomly game event, a plurality of different randomly game events or to each different randomly game event associated with the paytable of the gaming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Peter Gerrard, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Dov L. Randall
  • Publication number: 20040018872
    Abstract: A bonus scheme for a gaming device which involves a symbol marker which advances along one or more paths. The paths include a plurality of symbols and one or more path change conditions. If a path change condition occurs, the symbol marker moves from one path to a different path. While advancing along certain paths, the player has the opportunity to gain bonus value depending upon which symbol the symbol marker visits. This type of bonus scheme increases player excitement for gaming devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Publication date: January 29, 2004
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Peter Gerrard, Dov L. Randall
  • Patent number: 6638164
    Abstract: The present invention provides an interactive, ongoing bonus game that operates at the same time as a base game of a gaming device and thereby enhances a player's award. The present invention provides one or more graduating multiplier or modifier displays, wherein the displays designate a position of value for each modifier. When certain symbols or combinations of symbols appear on the reels of the gaming device, the present invention modifies either the player's base game wager or a base game payout by the designated value of one of the modifiers. When certain other symbols or combinations of symbols appear on the reels of the gaming device, the present invention increases the designated value position for one or more of the modifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Dov L. Randall, Peter Gerrard
  • Publication number: 20030157982
    Abstract: A gaming device having a plurality of locations, at least one destination location, a player symbol, an award associated with the destination location which is provided to the player if the player symbol reaches the destination location, a setback condition associated with one of the locations, wherein when the player symbol moves to the location having the associated setback condition, the player symbol is relocated to one of the locations further from the destination location based on the setback condition, an advance condition associated with one of the locations, wherein when the player symbol moves to the location having the advance condition, the player symbol is relocated to one of the locations closer to the destination location based on the advance condition, and a plurality of offers associated with the locations, wherein the player is enabled to accept or reject the offer associated with location of the player symbol.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventors: Peter Gerrard, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Dov L. Randall
  • Patent number: 6602136
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a bonus scheme for a gaming device which involves a symbol marker which advances along one or more paths. The paths include a plurality of symbols and one or more path change conditions. If a path change condition occurs, the symbol marker moves from one path to a different path. While advancing along certain paths, the player has the opportunity to gain bonus value depending upon which symbol the symbol marker visits. This type of bonus scheme increases player excitement and joy for gaming devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2003
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Peter Gerrard, Dov L. Randall
  • Publication number: 20030060260
    Abstract: A gaming device having a plurality of locations, at least one destination location, a player symbol, an award associated with the destination location which is provided to the player if the player symbol reaches the destination location, a setback condition associated with one of the locations, wherein when the player symbol moves to the location having the associated setback condition, the player symbol is relocated to one of the locations further from the destination location based on the setback condition, an advance condition associated with one of the locations, wherein when the player symbol moves to the location having the advance condition, the player symbol is relocated to one of the locations closer to the destination location based on the advance condition, and a plurality of awards associated with the locations, wherein the award associated with one of the locations is provided to the player if the player does not reach the destination location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Peter Gerrard, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Dov L. Randall
  • Patent number: 6494785
    Abstract: The present invention involves a gaming device with a bonus scheme which includes a plurality of locations and at least one destination location. The player moves one or more symbols from location to location with the aim of reaching the destination location. At times the player may experience setback conditions or advance conditions which hinder and aid the player's progress, respectively. The player has the opportunity to gain one or more bonus values during the bonus round. This type of bonus scheme adds excitement to bonus rounds and increases player entertainment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Peter Gerrard, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Dov L. Randall
  • Publication number: 20020022514
    Abstract: The present invention provides an interactive, ongoing bonus game that operates at the same time as a base game of a gaming device and thereby enhances a player's award. The present invention provides one or more graduating multiplier or modifier displays, wherein the displays designate a position of value for each modifier. When certain symbols or combinations of symbols appear on the reels of the gaming device, the present invention modifies either the player's base game wager or a base game payout by the designated value of one of the modifiers. When certain other symbols or combinations of symbols appear on the reels of the gaming device, the present invention increases the designated value position for one or more of the modifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Dov L. Randall, Peter Gerrard
  • Publication number: 20020019255
    Abstract: The present invention provides an interactive, ongoing bonus game that operates at the same time as a base game of a gaming device and thereby enhances a player's award. The present invention provides one or more graduating multiplier or modifier displays, wherein the displays designate a position of value for each modifier. When certain symbols or combinations of symbols appear on the reels of the gaming device, the present invention modifies either the player's base game wager or a base game payout by the designated value of one of the modifiers. When certain other symbols or combinations of symbols appear on the reels of the gaming device, the present invention increases the designated value position for one or more of the modifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Publication date: February 14, 2002
    Inventors: Dov L. Randall, Peter Gerrard
  • Patent number: 6328649
    Abstract: The present invention provides an interactive, ongoing bonus game that operates at the same time as a base game of a gaming device and thereby enhances a player's award. The present invention provides one or more graduating multiplier or modifier displays, wherein the displays designate a position of value for each modifier. When certain symbols or combinations of symbols appear on the reels of the gaming device, the present invention modifies either the player's base game wager or a base game payout by the designated value of one of the modifiers. When certain other symbols or combinations of symbols appear on the reels of the gaming device, the present invention increases the designated value position for one or more of the modifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Dov L. Randall, Peter Gerrard