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).

  • GAMING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20200302741
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a gaming device that has a video display. When the player initiates the game, an animation is shown. If the game had a losing outcome, the animation is very short and allows the player to quickly try for a win. If instead the game has a winning outcome the gaming device spins reels or otherwise shows the player how much he or she has one. The animation may also indicate progress toward a mystery jackpot or a group mystery jackpot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventor: JOHN F. ACRES
  • AUTOMATIC APPLICATION OF A BONUS TO AN ELECTRONIC GAMING DEVICE RESPONSIVE TO PLAYER INTERACTION WITH A MOBILE COMPUTING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20200302750
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of activating a secondary game on a mobile computing device associated with a primary game on one of a plurality of networked electronic gaming machines in which an optical code is affixed to each gaming machine. Each optical code is stored in electronic form in a database and is associated with at least one bonus award that may be collected by a player of the gaming machine to which the stored optical code is affixed. An electronic optical code associated with one of the gaming machines is received responsive to scanning with a camera on the mobile computing device. The player may apply at least one of the bonus awards to the one electronic gaming machine in response to an input received at the mobile computing device. In one aspect, the mobile computing device displays real and virtual worlds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Inventor: JOHN F. ACRES
  • Event-based gaming operations for gaming device
    Patent number: 10783742
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to gaming devices and gaming systems that are configured to implement event-based gaming operations. Here, a gaming device includes a game event list that has game outcomes associated with each entry in the game event list. The game event list is generated before game play on the gaming device by selecting general game outcome types or specific game outcomes for each of the entries in the game event list. During game play, a game counter is incremented to a next entry in the game event list and an associated game outcome is displayed on the gaming device during the gaming event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • Optimizing drawing prize awards
    Patent number: 10777040
    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 player period drawing entries are generated proportional to play on electronic gaming devices, play of the promotional game, or retail purchases. Some players receive a multiplier for their drawing entries to enhance chances of winning the promotional game. In one embodiment, the multiplier is removed for a player after a cutoff threshold for prizes awarded to that player is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • GENERATING A SCORE RELATED TO PLAY ON GAMING DEVICES
    Publication number: 20200265668
    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: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventor: JOHN F. ACRES
  • LINKED GAME PLAY ON GAMING MACHINES
    Publication number: 20200265688
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present concept provide gaming devices configured for linked game play. First and second gaming devices that are separately playable by first and second players are electronically linked so that a gaming event being played at the first gaming device may also be being played at the second gaming device. Also provided is a method of sharing game play across multiple gaming devices, where the method includes receiving a wager from a first player at a first gaming device, receiving a wager from a second player at a second gaming device, initiating a gaming event that is displayed at the first and second gaming devices, and awarding prizes associated with gaming outcomes displayed at the first and second gaming devices. These and other arrangements of the present concept may allow cooperative or competitive game play between the first and second player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventor: John F. ACRES
  • GAMING DEVICE WITH PERSONALITY
    Publication number: 20200265670
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to gaming devices that provide audio-visual animated characters in response to game play. The character has a personality that may be encouraging, taunting or another quality. A plurality of expressions of the personality is presented, between one extreme and another, dependant upon the history of game outcomes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventor: JOHN F. ACRES
  • BONUS WITH PROXIMITY OF OCCURRENCE RELATED TO BASE GAME OUTCOMES OR PAYBACK PERCENTAGE
    Publication number: 20200265675
    Abstract: Each play of a base game increases the likelihood of winning a bonus award. A display provides a graphical indication of the change in likelihood of winning the bonus award. In one aspect, the bonus award comprises the opportunity to play a secondary game. In another aspect, winning the bonus award may be based on payback percentage or outcomes of the base game. In yet another aspect, the timing of the next bonus award can be configured, or otherwise based on one or more conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Inventor: JOHN F. ACRES
  • SYSTEM FOR TRADE-IN BONUS
    Publication number: 20200242893
    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: April 13, 2020
    Publication date: July 30, 2020
    Inventor: JOHN F. ACRES
  • Automatic application of a bonus to an electronic gaming device responsive to player interaction with a mobile computing device
    Patent number: 10726673
    Abstract: A computer-implemented method of activating a secondary game on a mobile computing device associated with a primary game on one of a plurality of networked electronic gaming machines in which an optical code is affixed to each gaming machine. Each optical code is stored in electronic form in a database and is associated with at least one bonus award that may be collected by a player of the gaming machine to which the stored optical code is affixed. An electronic optical code associated with one of the gaming machines is received responsive to scanning with a camera on the mobile computing device. The player may apply at least one of the bonus awards to the one electronic gaming machine in response to an input received at the mobile computing device. In one aspect, the mobile computing device displays real and virtual worlds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • DELAYED BONUS WIN DETERMINATION
    Publication number: 20200219365
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to gaming devices having a delayed bonus win determination and methods of operating gaming systems and gaming devices to provide delayed bonus win determinations. Here, contributions to a linked jackpot may be separated from the chance to win the linked jackpot, where the chance to win the linked jackpot can be stored and used at a later time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventor: JOHN F. ACRES
  • Gaming device
    Patent number: 10706670
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include a gaming device that has a video display. When the player initiates the game, an animation is shown. If the game had a losing outcome, the animation is very short and allows the player to quickly try for a win. If instead the game has a winning outcome the gaming device spins reels or otherwise shows the player how much he or she has one. The animation may also indicate progress toward a mystery jackpot or a group mystery jackpot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • Linked game play on gaming machines
    Patent number: 10672233
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present concept provide gaming devices configured for linked game play. First and second gaming devices that are separately playable by first and second players are electronically linked so that a gaming event being played at the first gaming device may also be being played at the second gaming device. Also provided is a method of sharing game play across multiple gaming devices, where the method includes receiving a wager from a first player at a first gaming device, receiving a wager from a second player at a second gaming device, initiating a gaming event that is displayed at the first and second gaming devices, and awarding prizes associated with gaming outcomes displayed at the first and second gaming devices. These and other arrangements of the present concept may allow cooperative or competitive game play between the first and second player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • ELECTRONIC WAGERING
    Publication number: 20200160647
    Abstract: The present system incorporates mobile computing devices to play games, such as electronic pull-tabs, in a plurality of venues, each having a local wireless network. Each network communicates with a central system that generates decks of game outcomes and associated awards. All wagers and awards for each game are tracked on the central system, which also provides each game award and associated outcome from a deck stored on the central system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: JOHN F. ACRES, WARREN WHITE, MARK N. DAILEY, WILLIAM DALE HERMANSEN, ANTHONY MORELLI, ALEX WHITE, CYRUS A. LUCIANO, JOHN G. SCHMITZ, ANDREW KING, PATRICK B. FERGUSON
  • SYSTEM TO DISPATCH CASINO AGENTS TO AN ELECTRONIC GAMING MACHINE IN RESPONSE TO A PREDEFINED EVENT AT THE ELECTRONIC GAMING MACHINE
    Publication number: 20200160656
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a method for dispatching a person to an electronic gaming machine in response to a predefined event at the electronic gaming machine. A listing of casino agents who may be dispatched is stored on in a database. A communication on a network of gaming machines is received indicating that a casino agent should be dispatched to one of the electronic gaming machines. A signal is automatically sent to a wireless device carried by a person including data that identifies the one electronic gaming device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Publication date: May 21, 2020
    Inventors: JOHN F. ACRES, KEVIN PARKER, ANDREA MCCURRY
  • Gaming device with personality
    Patent number: 10657758
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to gaming devices that provide audio-visual animated characters in response to game play. The character has a personality that may be encouraging, taunting or another quality. A plurality of expressions of the personality is presented, between one extreme and another, dependant upon the history of game outcomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • Generating a score related to play on gaming devices
    Patent number: 10657763
    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: October 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • Bonus with proximity of occurrence related to base game outcomes or payback percentage
    Patent number: 10657767
    Abstract: Each play of a base game increases the likelihood of winning a bonus award. A display provides a graphical indication of the change in likelihood of winning the bonus award. In one aspect, the bonus award comprises the opportunity to play a secondary game. In another aspect, winning the bonus award may be based on payback percentage or outcomes of the base game. In yet another aspect, the timing of the next bonus award can be configured, or otherwise based on one or more conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • System for trade-in bonus
    Patent number: 10650640
    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: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: ACRES TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: John F. Acres
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING GAMING PLAYER BEHAVIOR
    Publication number: 20200134972
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to analyzing recorded game information to determine information about a player's behavior. This is accomplished by analyzing the player's actions following a positive increase in credits within credit meter data. This analysis can be utilized in automatically altering a game parameter of the gaming device being played by the player or in providing operators trend information that can be used in modifying the game device or designing future gaming devices. An analysis station may be included in a gaming system using this analysis process to allow an operator to view and manipulate a graphical representation of the credit meter data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Publication date: April 30, 2020
    Inventor: JOHN F. ACRES