Patents by Inventor Natalie Bryant

Natalie Bryant 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).

  • Publication number: 20180114407
    Abstract: A gaming system includes a game implementer arranged to implement a base game, and an item collector arranged, during game play of a base game, by a player to add at least one item from a plurality of available items to an inventory associated with the player, wherein each collected item is usable by the player in a feature game. The system also includes a device arranged to store the item inventory of collected items usable by the player in the feature game. The system implements a feature game and includes an item selector arranged, during the feature game, to enable selection by the player of at least one item from the item inventory to use in the feature game, and an outcome evaluator arranged to determine an outcome of the feature game, based on the selected item. The feature game may be initiated by a player at any time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2017
    Publication date: April 26, 2018
    Inventors: Natalie Bryant, James Loader, Nichelle Nolan, Sam Walker, Adeline Jie
  • Patent number: 9916724
    Abstract: A gaming machine (10) has a display (14) and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display (14). The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein one or more random events arc caused to be displayed on the display (14) and, if a predefined winning event results, the machine (10) awards a prize which is credited to a credit meter of the machine (10). The credit meter includes two meter displays, a first meter display (42.1) indicating credit which is available for expenditure in the machine (10) to play at least one game and a second meter display (42.2) indicating credit set aside by at least one of a player and the game controller and which credit is unavailable to the player for wagering on a game but which is only available by termination of a playing session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, Natalie Bryant, Peter Stathis
  • Publication number: 20180033237
    Abstract: A multi-game gaming machine comprises a touch screen display, and a controller responsive to a configuration command to enter a configuration mode in which the controller controls the touch screen display to display a configuration menu including a game package selection sub-menu. The gaming machine is operable in the configuration mode to select between a plurality of game packages that are different from one another, each game package comprising a plurality of games playable on the gaming machine when the respective game package is selected. The controller controls the touch screen display to display a game selection interface when the gaming machine is in a game selection mode, the game selection interface including game images corresponding to each game of the selected game package. The controller is responsive to a touch input in respect of a respective game image to change the touch screen display to reflect selection of the game associated with the respective game image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Publication date: February 1, 2018
    Inventors: Joel Osmond, Renish Gami, Claire Mileto, Marc Mayo, Julie Howells, Shaun Ruhle, Jessica Morse, Natalie Bryant
  • Patent number: 9858762
    Abstract: A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a spinning reel game wherein one or more random events are caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. When at least one special symbol appears on the display, the special symbol is held in a superimposed representation in that position for at least one further game while at least that reel carrying the special symbol is re-spun for the at least one further game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, Natalie Bryant
  • Patent number: 9842461
    Abstract: A console is described, having display means, and game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game in which one or more symbols are randomly selected as a combination of symbols and displayed on the display means. If a winning combination results, the machine awards a prize. In some circumstances, the console will display an animated character to communicate information to the player. The character is independent of and appears asynchronously with respect to the game being played and is arranged to appear super imposed over any game screen currently displayed at the time the character is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD.
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, Natalie Bryant, Stephen Byng
  • Patent number: 9836912
    Abstract: A method of gaming comprising conducting a play of a game for a player, wherein the game comprises a plurality of different game portions and conducting the play of the game comprises conducting at least one of the game portions, determining independently of play of the game whether to trigger a community game, determining upon triggering of the community game, whether the player has an active eligibility in respect of a conducted game portion; and determining, upon the player having an active eligibility, an award to apply in respect of at least one winning outcome of the community game based on at least the identity of the game portion in relation to which the player has an active eligibility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, David Villa, Natalie Bryant
  • Publication number: 20170301185
    Abstract: A gaming machine configured to play one of a plurality of games. The gaming machine includes a display that has a first display area to display a carousel of first representations of a number of the games, and a second display area to display a matrix of second representations of the number of the games. A game controller controls the first display area to display the carousel and the second display area to display the matrix. In response to having received a player input at one display area of the first display area and the second display area, the game controller controls the one display area to highlight one representation in the one display area and highlights a corresponding another one representation in another one of the first display area and the second display area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Publication date: October 19, 2017
    Inventors: Natalie Bryant, Kevan Rush, Kenneth Mark Upton
  • Publication number: 20170053499
    Abstract: A gaming machine including a display, a game controller, and a selector. A player operates the selector to enable the player to place one of a plurality of possible wagers on a play of the game comprising at least a first wager consisting of a base wager, and second and third wagers each consisting of a base wager portion and an additional wager portion. There is no guarantee that the at least one added feature will eventuate in a specific play of the game as a result of the player having staked the additional wager portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Natalie Bryant, Nicholas Luke Bennett, Peter Leslie Walker
  • Publication number: 20160292968
    Abstract: A gaming machine (10) has a display (14) and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display (14). The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein one or more random events arc caused to be displayed on the display (14) and, if a predefined winning event results, the machine (10) awards a prize which is credited to a credit meter of the machine (10). The credit meter includes two meter displays, a first meter display (42.1) indicating credit which is available for expenditure in the machine (10) to play at least one game and a second meter display (42.2) indicating credit set aside by at least one of a player and the game controller and which credit is unavailable to the player for wagering on a game but which is only available by termination of a playing session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, Natalie Bryant, Peter Stathis
  • Patent number: 9367986
    Abstract: A gaming machine (10) has a display (14) and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display (14). The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein one or more random events arc caused to be displayed on the display (14) and, if a predefined winning event results, the machine (10) awards a prize which is credited to a credit meter of the machine (10). The credit meter includes two meter displays, a first meter display (42.1) indicating credit which is available for expenditure in the machine (10) to play at least one game and a second meter display (42.2) indicating credit set aside by at least one of a player and the game controller and which credit is unavailable to the player for wagering on a game but which is only available by termination of a playing session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, Natalie Bryant, Peter Stathis
  • Patent number: 9361756
    Abstract: A gaming machine is provided, which awards loyalty points to players playing the game who have identified themselves to the machine. The machine is arranged to award loyalty points to the player and to play two game means wherein, the first or base game may be provided by the slot machine game as a stand alone function with no dependence upon a supporting communications network, the second game may be linked game in which a plurality of network connected machines participate with control of the game being provided by a central game controller, while the communications network is controlled by a network controller. A first game mode is available to all players and a second enhanced game mode is made available to players who have reached a predetermined threshold of loyalty points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Natalie Bryant, Scott Olive
  • Patent number: 9317992
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a controller for controlling operation of the machine, a primary display is provided on which a game to be played is displayed. A secondary display is also provided on which a scorecard, indicating prizes to be paid upon a winning game being achieved, is displayed. The game and the scorecard are controlled by the controller and the scorecard is a dynamic scorecard with the relationship between combinations of symbols constituting a winning game and the prizes awarded by the scorecard for that particular game changing from game to game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, Philippa Graham, Natalie Bryant
  • Publication number: 20160063807
    Abstract: A console is described, having display means, and game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game in which one or more symbols are randomly selected as a combination of symbols and displayed on the display means. If a winning combination results, the machine awards a prize. In some circumstances, the console will display an animated character to communicate information to the player. The character is independent of and appears asynchronously with respect to the game being played and is arranged to appear super imposed over any game screen currently displayed at the time the character is displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, Natalie Bryant, Stephen Byng
  • Patent number: 9123210
    Abstract: A console is described, having display means, and game control means arranged to control images displayed on the display means, the game control means being arranged to play a game in which one or more symbols are randomly selected as a combination of symbols and displayed on the display means. If a winning combination results, the machine awards a prize. In some circumstances, the console will display an animated character to communicate information to the player. The character is independent of and appears asynchronously with respect to the game being played and is arranged to appear super imposed over any game screen currently displayed at the time the character is displayed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, Natalie Bryant, Stephen Byng
  • Publication number: 20150005056
    Abstract: A gaming machine is provided, which awards loyalty points to players playing the game who have identified themselves to the machine. The machine is arranged to award loyalty points to the player and to play two game means wherein, the first or base game may be provided by the slot machine game as a stand alone function with no dependence upon a supporting communications network, the second game may be linked game in which a plurality of network connected machines participate with control of the game being provided by a central game controller, while the communications network is controlled by a network controller. A first game mode is available to all players and a second enhanced game mode is made available to players who have reached a predetermined threshold of loyalty points.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Natalie Bryant, Scott OLIVE
  • Patent number: 8876588
    Abstract: A gaming machine has a display and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a spinning reel game wherein one or more random events are caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. When at least one special symbol appears on the display, the special symbol is held in a superimposed representation in that position for at least one further game while at least that reel carrying the special symbol is re-spun for the at least one further game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, Natalie Bryant
  • Patent number: 8834249
    Abstract: A gaming machine is provided, which awards loyalty points to players playing the game who have identified themselves to the machine. The machine is arranged to award loyalty points to the player and to play two game means wherein, the first or base game may be provided by the slot machine game as a stand alone function with no dependence upon a supporting communications network, the second game may be linked game in which a plurality of network connected machines participate with control of the game being provided by a central game controller, while the communications network is controlled by a network controller. A first game mode is available to all players and a second enhanced game mode is made available to players who have reached a predetermined threshold of loyalty points.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Natalie Bryant, Scott Olive
  • Patent number: 8784184
    Abstract: A gaming machine (10) has a display (14) and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display (14). The game controller is arranged to play a game (16) wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display (14). If a predefined winning event occurs, the machine (10) awards a prize. When a special symbol is carried by a symbol-carrying element into a display position on the display (14), the special symbol does at least one of altering the prize awarded for a winning result and altering a defined set of winning combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Nicholas Luke Bennett, Natalie Bryant
  • Patent number: 8777723
    Abstract: A gaming machine 10 has a display 14 and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display 14. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. The display 14 displays a plurality of spinning reels 18, each reel 18 carrying symbols from a set of symbols. One of the symbols of the set is a scatter symbol and, in respect of at least one of the reels, the set comprises more than one occurrence of the scatter symbol. The scatter symbols on the at least one reel are arranged on the reel so that more than one scatter symbol is able to be displayed simultaneously when the reels are in a rest condition. When more than a minimum number of scatter symbols are displayed at any one time, all the displayed scatter symbols contribute to a single paying combination of the scatter symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Natalie Bryant
  • Patent number: D792905
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Natalie Bryant, Kevan Rush, Kenneth Mark Upton