Patents by Inventor Dwayne A. Davis

Dwayne A. Davis 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: 9171422
    Abstract: Gaming systems and methods for operating a gaming system are provided. The gaming system includes a controller operable with a plurality of gaming devices. Based at least in part on wagering activity, the controller determines a ranking for a plurality of gaming devices in the gaming system. The controller determines a plurality of the ranked gaming devices that are eligible for a designated award and, for each of the plurality of eligible gaming devices, determines a probability of being selected to win the designated award. The controller selects at least one of the eligible gaming devices based part on the determined probability for said at least one eligible gaming device, and causes the at least one selected gaming device to provide the designated award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Michael N. Low, Michael M. Oberberger, Dwayne A. Davis
  • Patent number: 9129469
    Abstract: A service window may be provided to a gaming machine, such as a video slot machine, video poker machine, or similar electronic device. The service window may include an option to request an available game for download. A request for the game may be received via the service window and the game may be provided to the gaming machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Steven G. LeMay, Dwayne A. Davis, Dwayne R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8979654
    Abstract: A game table having a multiplayer interactive display/input device which enables multiple players to play primary or base wagering games and/or secondary or bonus games using the display/input device. The display/input device enables multiple players to simultaneously interact with the game table and the various games using the same display/input device. In various embodiments, the game table operates with one or more separate physical input devices, each having one or a plurality of the encoded patterns and each being sized and configured to be placed on top of the game table. The separate physical input devices enable the player to interact with the display/input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Kimberly M. Campbell, Christiaan R. Champagne, Dwayne A. Davis, Hans Elias, Damien C. Ennis, Michael P. Khamis, David N. Myers, David M. Palmer
  • Publication number: 20150024830
    Abstract: A gaming system and method which forms, tracks and maintains one or more groups, teams or pools of players. Each group, team or pool includes one or more players (i.e., team members). A player's participation or involvement with the group or team enables the player to access one or more benefits otherwise not available to players unaffiliated with the group or team. That is, based on a player's association with a formed group or team, the gaming system provides the player with one or more benefits, such as an award, an opportunity to win an award, or a modified probability of winning an award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Dwayne R. Nelson, Steven G. Lemay, Dwayne A. Davis
  • Publication number: 20140323191
    Abstract: The gaming system, gaming device and gaming method provides a plurality of sequential player events in which the player must take an action in a designated period of time and where the player has less time to take the action in each subsequent event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Dwayne A. Davis, Scott T. Hilbert, Michael M. Oberberger, Alexandria E. Sutich
  • Patent number: 8864135
    Abstract: A game table having a multiplayer interactive display/input device which enables multiple players to simultaneously play primary or base wagering games and/or secondary or bonus games using the display/input device. The display/input device enables multiple players to simultaneously interact with the game table and the various games using the same display/input device. The game table enables multiple players to manipulate displayed objects (such as virtual cards or other game symbols) displayed by the display/input device at the same time. This enables the display/input device to simultaneously display the same game to multiple players in an integrated seamless manner without the need for multiple different sets of display devices and input devices for each of the players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Kimberly M. Campbell, Christiaan R. Champagne, Dwayne A. Davis, Hans Elias, Damien C. Ennis, Michael P. Khamis, David N. Myers, David M. Palmer
  • Publication number: 20140228103
    Abstract: A gaming machine coupled to at least one server via a network includes a display device configured to display a base game to a player playing at the gaming machine, and a controller coupled to the display device. The controller is configured to determine an outcome during play of the base game, and award at least one token based on the outcome of the base game, wherein a value of the token based on as additional play of the base game by the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Matthew Belger, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Dwayne A. Davis, Brian Johnson, Daniel J. De Waal, Cameron Anthony Filipour, David Muir
  • Patent number: 8777729
    Abstract: A coupled to at least one server via a network includes a display device configured to display a base game to a player playing at the gaming machine, and a controller coupled to the display device. The controller is configured to determine an outcome during play of the base game, and award at least one token based on the outcome of the base game, wherein a value of the token based on as additional play of the base game by the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Matthew Belger, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Dwayne A. Davis, Brian Johnson, Daniel J. DeWaal, Cameron Anthony Filipour, David Muir
  • Patent number: 8777722
    Abstract: The gaming system, gaming device and gaming method provides a plurality of sequential player events in which the player must take an action in a designated period of time and where the player has less time to take the action in each subsequent event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Dwayne A. Davis, Scott T. Hilbert, Michael M. Oberberger, Alexandria E. Sultich
  • Patent number: 8734220
    Abstract: Techniques and equipment for providing a voting point leaderboard system are provided. Players playing wagering games may be awarded voting points for use in a poll with a plurality of candidates in exchange for game-play related activity. Players voting for the winning candidate in the poll may be given an award. Polls may include candidates which may be involved in a real-world contest. Players may be rewarded for voting for the candidate which wins the real-world contest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Dwayne A. Davis, Dwayne R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8734221
    Abstract: Techniques and equipment for providing a voting point leaderboard system are provided. Players playing wagering games may be awarded voting points for use in a poll with a plurality of candidates in exchange for game-play related activity. Players voting for the winning candidate in the poll may be given an award. Polls may include candidates which may be involved in a real-world contest. Players may be rewarded for voting for the candidate which wins the real-world contest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Dwayne A. Davis, Dwayne R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8734257
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques and equipment for providing a voting point leaderboard system. Players playing wagering games may be awarded voting points for use in a poll with a plurality of candidates in exchange for game-play related activity. Players voting for the winning candidate in the poll may be given an award. Polls may include candidates which may be involved in a real-world contest. Players may be rewarded for voting for the candidate which wins the real-world contest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Dwayne A. Davis, Dwayne R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8727858
    Abstract: Techniques and equipment for providing a voting point leaderboard system are provided. Players playing wagering games may be awarded voting points for use in a poll with a plurality of candidates in exchange for game-play related activity. Players voting for the winning candidate in the poll may be given an award. Polls may include candidates which may be involved in a real-world contest. Players may be rewarded for voting for the candidate which wins the real-world contest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Dwayne A. Davis, Dwayne R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8727865
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a gaming system includes a plurality of gaming devices and a controller configured to communicate with the gaming devices. The gaming system enables a plurality of players to play an interactive game in a non-competitive mode and in a competitive mode. If at least two players play the interactive game in the competitive mode, for a competitive wagering event, which includes a competition between two players, the gaming system determines a winning player and a losing player. The gaming system causes the winning player to contribute a winning player portion toward a wager associated with the competitive wagering event and causes the losing player to contribute a losing player portion toward the wager associated with the competitive wagering event. The losing player portion is less than the winning player portion. The gaming system randomly determines and provides any awards to the winning player based on the wager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Cameron A. Filipour, Dwayne A. Davis
  • Patent number: 8727857
    Abstract: Techniques and equipment for providing a voting point leaderboard system are provided. Players playing wagering games may be awarded voting points for use in a poll with a plurality of candidates in exchange for game-play related activity. Players voting for the winning candidate in the poll may be given an award. Polls may include candidates which may be involved in a real-world contest. Players may be rewarded for voting for the candidate which wins the real-world contest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Dwayne A. Davis, Dwayne R. Nelson
  • Publication number: 20140094267
    Abstract: The gaming system and method disclosed herein provides a player with an opportunity to compete against an opponent (either a virtual opponent or a human opponent). In one embodiment, the gaming system and method provide a competition game that operates concurrently with a wagering game. In one embodiment, the competition game includes a turn-based video game which enables a player to compete against an opponent. Different generated symbol combinations for the wagering game represent different game actions or sequences for the competition game. That is, the symbols or symbol combinations generated in the wager game determine which game actions or sequences the gaming system causes to occur for the competition game. Based on such displayed game actions and sequences, the disclosed gaming system and method determines whether the player or the opponent wins that competition for the competition game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Dwayne A. Davis, Palmer A. Dzurella
  • Publication number: 20140087851
    Abstract: Gaming systems and methods for operating a gaming system are provided. The gaming system includes a controller operable with a plurality of gaming devices. Based at least in part on wagering activity, the controller determines a ranking for a plurality of gaming devices in the gaming system. The controller determines a plurality of the ranked gaming devices that are eligible for a designated award and, for each of the plurality of eligible gaming devices, determines a probability of being selected to win the designated award. The controller selects at least one of the eligible gaming devices based part on the determined probability for said at least one eligible gaming device, and causes the at least one selected gaming device to provide the designated award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Michael N. Low, Michael M. Oberberger, Dwayne A. Davis
  • Patent number: 8672739
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a gaming system includes a plurality of gaming devices and a controller configured to communicate with the gaming devices. The gaming system enables a plurality of players to play an interactive game in a non-competitive mode and in a competitive mode. If at least two players play the interactive game in the competitive mode, for a competitive wagering event, which includes a competition between two players, the gaming system determines a winning player and a losing player. The gaming system causes the winning player to contribute a winning player portion toward a wager associated with the competitive wagering event and causes the losing player to contribute a losing player portion toward the wager associated with the competitive wagering event. The losing player portion is less than the winning player portion. The gaming system randomly determines and provides any awards to the winning player based on the wager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Cameron A. Filipour, Dwayne A. Davis
  • Publication number: 20140073418
    Abstract: A service window may be provided to a gaming machine, such as a video slot machine, video poker machine, or similar electronic device. The service window may include an option to request an available game for download. A request for the game may be received via the service window and the game may be provided to the gaming machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Steven G. LeMay, Dwayne A. Davis, Dwayne R. Nelson
  • Patent number: 8641518
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques and equipment for providing a temporary ID for a player tracking account. The temporary ID may be created by a first player with a first level of access to a first player tracking account. The temporary ID may be used by a second player to gain a second level of access to the player tracking account. The second level of access may be less than the first level of access.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Dwayne A. Davis, Dwayne R. Nelson