Patents by Inventor Lee E. Cannon

Lee E. Cannon 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: 9311780
    Abstract: Gaming apparatus and methods of conducting a wagering game of chance. A gaming machine is disclosed which is configured for mutually concurrent play of a plurality of games of chance on a single display screen. A method of conducting a wagering activity includes providing a player with a plurality of differing games of chance, at least some of which are mutually concurrently playable on a single screen display of a gaming device and enabling mutually concurrent play of the plurality of differing games of chance or the single screen display. Various other gaming machine configurations and methods of play related to multiple differing games of chance on a single display screen are also disclosed herein. Networked gaming machines are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Lee E. Cannon, John P. O'Donovan
  • Patent number: 9311783
    Abstract: Gaming apparatus and methods of conducting a wagering game of chance. A gaming machine is disclosed which is configured for mutually concurrent play of a plurality of games of chance on a single display screen. A method of conducting a wagering activity includes providing a player with a plurality of differing games of chance, at least some of which are mutually concurrently playable on a single screen display of a gaming device and enabling mutually concurrent play of the plurality of differing games of chance on the single screen display. Various other gaming machine configurations and methods of play related to multiple differing games of chance on a single display screen are also disclosed herein. Networked gaming machines are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Lee E. Cannon, John P. O'Donovan
  • Patent number: 9311782
    Abstract: Gaming apparatus and methods of conducting a wagering game of chance. A gaming machine is disclosed which is configured for mutually concurrent play of a plurality of games of chance on a single display screen. A method of conducting a wagering activity includes providing a player with a plurality of differing games of chance, at least some of which are mutually concurrently playable on a single screen display of a gaming device and enabling mutually concurrent play of the plurality of differing games of chance on the single screen display. Various other gaming machine configurations and methods of play related to multiple differing games of chance on a single display screen are also disclosed herein. Networked gaming machines are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Lee E. Cannon, John P. O'Donovan
  • Publication number: 20160027254
    Abstract: A gaming method and device includes a game, at least one non-qualifying outcome in the game, and at least one qualifying outcome in the game, wherein a player qualifies for a multi-player tournament to be held in the future when the player achieves the at least one qualifying outcome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Lee E. Cannon, Mick D. Roemer, Robert Guinn, Michael J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9235950
    Abstract: A gaming method, apparatus and system for playing a game of chance is disclosed in which a plurality of gaming machines may be linked together for mutually competitive play. According to one embodiment, two or more gaming machines are linked to a centrally located display exhibiting a game board comprising one or more groups of earmarkable cells in one or more groups. Players on the gaming machines wager and attempt to achieve winning outcomes which earmark cells in the group with designators of their respective gaming machines. When a predetermined number or configuration of cells of a group are earmarked, an award may be distributed to those gaming machines having earmarked cells according to the number of designators within that group associated with each gaming machine. The game of chance may be configured for play on an individual gaming machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Lee E. Cannon
  • Patent number: 9189923
    Abstract: Gaming apparatus and methods of conducting a wagering game of chance. A gaming machine is disclosed which is configured for mutually concurrent play of a plurality of games of chance on a single display screen. A method of conducting a wagering activity includes providing a player with a plurality of differing games of chance, at least some of which are mutually concurrently playable on a single screen display of a gaming device and enabling mutually concurrent play of the plurality of differing games of chance on the single screen display. Various other gaming machine configurations and methods of play related to multiple differing games of chance on a single display screen are also disclosed herein. Networked gaming machines are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Lee E. Cannon, John P. O'Donovan
  • Patent number: 9177442
    Abstract: A number matching game which includes a matching game with multiple number sets. A player can win standard Keno paytable awards in addition to relatively large awards. A player's initial set has a minimum size requirement for the player to be eligible for the relatively large award. The gaming machine provides supplemental numbers to the player if the player does not select the minimum quantity of numbers. Any supplemental numbers created for the player cannot be used towards the Keno paytable awards. In one embodiment, odds of winning the relatively large awards are kept proportionate with the player's wager level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Lee E. Cannon
  • Patent number: 9165429
    Abstract: A gaming method and device includes a game, at least one non-qualifying outcome in the game, and at least one qualifying outcome in the game, wherein a player qualifies for a multi-player tournament to be held in the future when the player achieves the at least one qualifying outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Lee E. Cannon, Mick D. Roemer, Robert Guinn, Michael J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9153100
    Abstract: Gaming apparatus and methods of conducting a wagering game of chance. A gaming machine is disclosed which is configured for mutually concurrent play of a plurality of games of chance on a single display screen. A method of conducting a wagering activity includes providing a player with a plurality of differing games of chance, at least some of which are mutually concurrently playable on a single screen display of a gaming device and enabling mutually concurrent play of the plurality of differing games of chance on the single screen display. Various other gaming machine configurations and methods of play related to multiple differing games of chance on a single display screen are also disclosed herein. Networked gaming machines are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Lee E. Cannon, John P. O'Donovan
  • Patent number: 9153101
    Abstract: Gaming apparatus and methods of conducting a wagering game of chance. A gaming machine is disclosed which is configured for mutually concurrent play of a plurality of games of chance on a single display screen. A method of conducting a wagering activity includes providing a player with a plurality of differing games of chance, at least some of which are mutually concurrently playable on a single screen display of a gaming device and enabling mutually concurrent play of the plurality of differing games of chance on the single screen display. Various other gaming machine configurations and methods of play related to multiple differing games of chance on a single display screen are also disclosed herein. Networked gaming machines are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Lee E. Cannon, John P. O'Donovan
  • Publication number: 20150279163
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and gaming units for conducting a multi-player wagering game in which at least one of the players may win the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a game-winning pattern of game indicia on one or more game arrays having unique combinations of game indicia based on matching the game indicia on the game arrays to game indicia randomly selected for the occurrence of the wagering game. Each player matching a game-winning pattern may receive game-winning award, and may receive a game-winning award for each game array on which a game-winning pattern is matched. The method and gaming unit may further include an alternate outcome display wherein an outcome of a second wagering game may be displayed that corresponds to the outcome for the player on the one or more game arrays for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventor: Lee E. Cannon
  • Patent number: 9111416
    Abstract: A gaming method and device includes a game, at least one non-qualifying outcome in the game, and at least one qualifying outcome in the game, wherein a player qualifies for a multi-player tournament to be held in the future when the player achieves the at least one qualifying outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Lee E. Cannon, Mick D. Roemer, Robert Guinn, Michael J. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9105159
    Abstract: The invention is directed to methods and gaming units for conducting a multi-player wagering game in which at least one of the players may win the occurrence of the wagering game by matching a game-winning pattern of game indicia on one or more game arrays having unique combinations of game indicia based on matching the game indicia on the game arrays to game indicia randomly selected for the occurrence of the wagering game. Each player matching a game-winning pattern may receive game-winning award, and may receive a game-winning award for each game array on which a game-winning pattern is matched. The method and gaming unit may further include an alternate outcome display wherein an outcome of a second wagering game may be displayed that corresponds to the outcome for the player on the one or more game arrays for the occurrence of the multi-player wagering game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Lee E. Cannon
  • Publication number: 20150161849
    Abstract: The present invention relates to gaming systems and methods where enablement for play of a bonus game is linked to play of a primary game. A player may qualify for the bonus game by preselected criteria associated with play of the primary game. The qualified players may participate in the bonus game and compete against one another in one or more rounds to achieve a final winning outcome based on the individual player's skill, strategy, or knowledge. The player who achieves the final winning outcome at the end of a plurality of rounds of the bonus game is awarded a bonus pool funded by a portion of wagers accumulated during play of the primary game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventor: Lee E. Cannon
  • Publication number: 20150161844
    Abstract: Methods of weighting odds in shared bonus events and gaming systems and devices configured for weighting odds in shared bonus events. A number of participations or entries by the same gaming machine or player entity may be obtained for a shared bonus event in association with play of a base or primary game, allowing the odds of winning the shared bonus event to be weighted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2015
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Inventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon, Charlotte S. Centuori, Alan D. Williams
  • Patent number: 8968071
    Abstract: Methods of weighting odds in shared bonus events and gaming systems and devices configured for weighting odds in shared bonus events. A number of participations or entries by the same gaming machine or player entity may be obtained for a shared bonus event in association with play of a base or primary game, allowing the odds of winning the shared bonus event to be weighted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon, Charlotte S. Centuori, Alan D. Williams
  • Publication number: 20150018065
    Abstract: A bonus controller for generating a competitive bonus game in a gaming system, the bonus controller having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The bonus controller being programmed to: receive wagering data corresponding to a casino game, enter a first player associated with a first gaming apparatus into the competitive bonus game when the first player obtains a qualifying win at the casino game, determine odds for the first player to win the competitive bonus game, vary odds of winning the competitive bonus game for at least a second player after entering the first player into the competitive bonus game, the second player having been previously entered into the competitive bonus game, determine an outcome of the competitive bonus game, and transmit data corresponding to the outcome of the competitive bonus game to a display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Lee E. Cannon
  • Publication number: 20140335942
    Abstract: Gaming apparatus and methods of conducting a wagering game of chance. A gaming machine is disclosed which is configured for mutually concurrent play of a plurality of games of chance on a single display screen. A method of conducting a wagering activity includes providing a player with a plurality of differing games of chance, at least some of which are mutually concurrently playable on a single screen display of a gaming device and enabling mutually concurrent play of the plurality of differing games of chance on the single screen display. Various other gaming machine configurations and methods of play related to multiple differing games of chance on a single display screen are also disclosed herein. Networked gaming machines are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Lee E. Cannon, John P. O'Donovan
  • Patent number: 8882585
    Abstract: A bonus controller for generating a competitive bonus game in a gaming system, the bonus controller having a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The bonus controller being programmed to: receive wagering data corresponding to a casino game, enter a first player associated with a first gaming apparatus into the competitive bonus game when the first player obtains a qualifying win at the casino game, determine odds for the first player to win the competitive bonus game, vary odds of winning the competitive bonus game for at least a second player after entering the first player into the competitive bonus game, the second player having been previously entered into the competitive bonus game, determine an outcome of the competitive bonus game, and transmit data corresponding to the outcome of the competitive bonus game to a display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Lee E. Cannon
  • Publication number: 20140309019
    Abstract: A gaming method includes receiving a wager from a player, displaying an image representative of a primary game, determining if a bonus event trigger has occurred, displaying an image representative of a bonus game, the bonus game including a representation associated with the player and a representation associated with an opponent, the representations each having at least one attribute associated with the bonus game, if the bonus event trigger occurs, and determining a payout associated with an outcome of the bonus game. The method also includes offering the player at least one advantage option, the at least one advantage option affecting at least one of the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the player and the at least one attribute of the representation associated with the opponent. A gaming machines and system may be provided to carry out such a method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon