Patents by Inventor John F. Acres

John F. Acres 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).

  • AUTOMATED METHOD FOR SERVICING ELECTRONIC GAMING MACHINES
    Publication number: 20210233350
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for creating an electronic log for documenting entries into electronic gaming machines on a network. The network is monitored by a network computing device. People who enter the machines carry mobile computing devices that communicate over a normally operating wireless network. Cooperating among the network computing device and the wireless network results in creating an entry that includes the identify of a person entering one of the gaming machines, the identity of the gaming machine entered, and the reason for entry. The entry is stored in an electronic log.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: JOHN F. ACRES, Andrea McCurry, Kevin Parker
  • Personal electronic device for gaming and bonus system
    Patent number: 11069180
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to communication methods in gaming networks using portable devices. In some networks portable devices communicate information about the status of particular gaming machines on the gaming network. In other networks portable devices are used as a secondary display for the gaming device. In yet other networks bonus games may be played on the portable devices. Further embodiments include a portable device that operates to match a current state of a game to a pre-defined state or states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • Reserve credits for use on gaming device
    Patent number: 11069189
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and apparatus in which a player plays one of a plurality of networked gaming devices. Game awards below a predefined level are tracked and stored on the network. If the game awards are less than a predefined criterion, a pay command is sent over the network to the player's gaming device, which may be used for a free game. Implementation in a single gaming device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Acres Technology
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • DRAWING WITH PARTICIPANT INTERACTION
    Publication number: 20210217273
    Abstract: A promotional game is conducted over participants' cell phones. During a play period, a participant advances on a virtual game board using cell phone commands. During the play period, participants' gaming wagering is used to generate drawing tickets. Each player may text COUNT to receive a text message containing his or her current board position and total tickets accumulated. Alternatively, or in addition, he or she may go to the casino, text the word STATUS and have the same information depicted with accompanying animation on a video display. At the end of the play period each player may text PEEK to receive a message indicating whether or not he or she has won any prizes. To learn the number of prizes and their worth, the player may go to the casino, text the word REVEAL and have the prize details depicted with accompanying animation on the video display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: JOHN F. ACRES, WILLIAM M. ADAMSON, PATRICK B. FERGUSON
  • Degressive bonus system
    Patent number: 11055961
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a mystery degressive bonus system. Instead of a bonus that increases its value as the likelihood of winning the bonus increases, embodiments of the invention disconnect the likelihood of winning a mystery bonus from the amount awarded for triggering the mystery bonus. In some embodiments as the likelihood of winning the mystery bonus increases, the award for winning the mystery bonus decreases. Some embodiments include a minimum value for winning the mystery bonus. Additional embodiments are directed to an indicator system to show to the player a present amount of the mystery bonus award as well as the likelihood of winning the award. Further embodiments include a gaming device that includes a bonus game in which the amount awarded to the player decreases over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: Acres Technology
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • MEANS FOR ENHANCING GAME PLAY OF GAMING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20210201620
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present concept provide gaming devices and gaming systems that are configured to implement means for enhancing game play. Here, various embodiments of this concept use game insertion techniques to enhance the game play experience for players. These game insertion techniques include placing bonus spins, free games, or other incentives within traditional game play. In one model, a gaming device may use a bonus spin routine to replace a losing game outcome with a winning game outcome. Here, the player may be shown the initial losing game outcome and then be notified that a bonus spin has been awarded, which ultimately results in the winning game outcome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Publication date: July 1, 2021
    Inventor: JOHN F. ACRES
  • Generating a score related to play on gaming devices
    Patent number: 11037399
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to generating and displaying a score related to the results of wagering by a player on an electronic gaming machine. In one embodiment, a method for generating a score related to play on at least one electronic gaming device includes tracking the amount wagered on the gaming device, tracking the amount awarded by the gaming device, and generating a score related to the tracked amounts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING GAMING ACTIVITY
    Publication number: 20210170269
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a gaming device configured to record gaming activity, a method of processing the recorded gaming activity to analyze player behavior, and a system including the gaming device. The gaming device may include a gaming display to display gaming events played on the gaming device by a player during a gaming session, a player interface panel including a plurality of gaming buttons and a game initiating button configured to initiate the gaming events, and a game processor configured to record each activity between the player and the gaming device, wherein each recorded activity is associated with a time stamp.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventor: JOHN F. ACRES
  • SYSTEM FOR TRADE-IN BONUS
    Publication number: 20210174644
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to gaming systems that allow customers to wager, or “trade-in” an object of value or winning situation for a chance to win an even more valuable award. The chance for valuable award may be a bonus game or chance to win a bonus game. Bonus awards are “funded” by the savings achieved from the players trading in their wins in the base game, which would otherwise be paid. Players who do not trade-in see no changes from the base game paytable, while those players who participate in the trade-in bonus have a different gaming experience.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2021
    Publication date: June 10, 2021
    Inventor: JOHN F. ACRES
  • Gaming device having multiple game play option
    Patent number: 11024132
    Abstract: Embodiments of this concept are directed to gaming devices that are configured to initiate multiple gaming events in response to a player input. The gaming device may include game initiating inputs that initiate a predetermined number of gaming events in response to the player input, or the gaming device may include configurable game initiating inputs that initiate a number of gaming events specified by the player, specified the gaming device, or specified by a gaming server. The gaming device or gaming server may set the number of initiated game events in response to the occurrence of a triggering event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • Means for controlling payback percentage of gaming device
    Patent number: 11017626
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present concept provide means to control the payback percentage of games being played on gaming devices. In one example, a gaming device includes a processor configured to initiate a payback-controlling event and determine a game outcome to display on the game display in response to a gaming event being initiated. Here, the determined game outcome is a payback-controlling outcome when the payback-controlling event satisfies the payback-controlling criterion, and the determined game outcome is a game outcome determined from the base-game paytable when the payback-controlling event does not satisfy the payback-controlling criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • Entertainment game-based gaming device
    Patent number: 11011011
    Abstract: Embodiments of this concept are direct to a game that includes a combination of an entertainment game and a gambling game. This game combination provides an entertainment game that retains the playability and fun of a skill game or other non-traditional gambling game while allowing for wagers to still be placed and awards won. In some embodiments, the wager-based gambling game is tied directly into the entertainment game, which provides additional entertainment and excitement. Other embodiments separate some of the aspects of the gambling game from the entertainment game to retain the feel of well known gaming devices while still providing an entertainment game to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • RAPID PLAY POKER GAMING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20210142627
    Abstract: Embodiments of this concept are directed to a video poker gaming device that deals five cards to a player and selects five more cards that represent the possible cards used in a later draw. From these ten cards, the gaming device if a winning combination above a threshold amount is possible. If such a winning combination is not possible, in some embodiments, the device automatically ends the game and deals a new hand. If a win over the threshold amount is possible, the gaming device allows the player to hold and draw cards. This increases the speed of play of the poker game and focuses game play on hands where winning combinations are likely.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2021
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • OUTCOME DETERMINATION METHOD FOR GAMING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20210134119
    Abstract: Embodiments of this concept are directed to a method of operating a gaming device to determine game outcomes by using a range of game numbers for winning game outcomes. That is, the gaming device includes a range of numbers associated with a generic winning outcome or each winning outcome to ensure that a winning outcome or specific winning outcome will hit within the specified range. This method may be used a variety of game types including slot machines, video poker, keno, video pachinko, etc. These gaming machines may additionally include one or more proximity indicators or meters associated with the various outcomes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventor: JOHN F. ACRES
  • Automated method for servicing electronic gaming machines
    Patent number: 10997820
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for creating an electronic log for documenting entries into electronic gaming machines on a network. The network is monitored by a network computing device. People who enter the machines carry mobile computing devices that communicate over a normally operating wireless network. Cooperating among the network computing device and the wireless network results in creating an entry that includes the identify of a person entering one of the gaming machines, the identity of the gaming machine entered, and the reason for entry. The entry is stored in an electronic log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: John F. Acres, Andrea McCurry, Kevin Parker
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRIGGERING A BONUS
    Publication number: 20210118263
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a bonus game that is common to a bank of electronic gaming devices. One or more pools accrue with each wager placed. A player qualifies to play the bonus game when at least one tracked player or game criterion, such as wagers made, exceeds a threshold, triggers a mystery-jackpot counter, or is selected by a weighted pay table. The bonus game includes a video display of a wheel bouncing against a brick wall with bricks being exploded by coins. After an opening is formed in the wall and the wheel escapes, a wheel spin determines the bonus game outcome. More than one player may play the bonus game in sequence until the last player spins the wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventor: JOHN F. ACRES
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DISPATCHING CASINO PERSONNEL AND TRACKING INTERACTIONS WITH PLAYERS
    Publication number: 20210118261
    Abstract: The present embodiment includes a dispatch system and method in which a casino agent is equipped with mobile computing devices that receive a dispatch notification. The notification includes the identity of an electronic gaming device at which an identified player has started a gaming session and the identity of the player. The player's record is displayed on the mobile computing device and includes the number of times the casino agent has been dispatched to a gaming device at which the player is identified as well as descriptions of prior calls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventor: JOHN F. ACRES
  • METHOD FOR SHARING GAME PLAY ON AN ELECTRONIC GAMING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20210097817
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present concept provide an electronic gaming device that facilitates wagering by multiple players on a single gaming device. Also provided is a method of sharing game play on such a gaming device, where the method includes receiving a wager from a first player at a first gaming station, receiving a wager from a second player at a second gaming station, initiating a gaming event that is displayed at the first and second gaming stations, and awarding prizes associated with gaming outcomes displayed at the first and second gaming stations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventor: JOHN F. ACRES
  • SYSTEM FOR PROMOTING PLAY ON ELECTRIC GAMING DEVICES AND ENGAGEMENT WITH CASINO PERSONNEL
    Publication number: 20210097809
    Abstract: A method for promoting play on electronic gaming devices and for promoting engagement with casino personnel comprising in which a code is displayed on a sign. When the code is received in a text from an identified player, drawing entries are associated with the player as a function of play on the gaming devices. At least one drawing entry is also associated with the player when he or she actuates a service button on a gaming device. Drawing prizes, if any, are revealed in response to another text from the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Inventor: JOHN F. ACRES
  • Means for enhancing game play of gaming device
    Patent number: 10964164
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present concept provide gaming devices and gaming systems that are configured to implement means for enhancing game play. Here, various embodiments of this concept use game insertion techniques to enhance the game play experience for players. These game insertion techniques include placing bonus spins, free games, or other incentives within traditional game play. In one model, a gaming device may use a bonus spin routine to replace a losing game outcome with a winning game outcome. Here, the player may be shown the initial losing game outcome and then be notified that a bonus spin has been awarded, which ultimately results in the winning game outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John F. Acres