Patents by Inventor Noel S. Steere
Noel S. Steere 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).
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Patent number: 8876592Abstract: A gaming system and a method for conducting a wagering game includes a first gaming terminal and a second gaming terminal. The gaming system includes at least two input devices, at least two display devices and at least one processor. The processor operates to display primary wagering games to the first and second gaming terminals in response to receiving one or more wagers at the respective gaming terminals. A first perceived-value enhancement is displayed to the first gaming terminal. The first perceived-value enhancement is active for a first limited period of time and is capable of enhancing a subsequent bonus event. A bonus event is triggered and provided to at least one of the first and second gaming terminals. An enhanced bonus event is provided to the first gaming terminal in response to the bonus event triggered for the first gaming terminal while the first perceived-value enhancement is active.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Benjamin T. Gomez, Daniel P. Louie, Dion K. Aoki, Dylan B. Selegue, Noel S. Steere, Robin L. Littleworth
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Patent number: 8834254Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include detecting, wirelessly, an identifier associated with a portable wireless device. In some embodiments, the identifier is assigned to a wagering game player account. The operations can further include initiating a wagering game session for the wagering game player account, via a wagering game machine, in response to detecting the identifier. The operations can further include detecting, wirelessly, a use of the portable wireless device in response to player input via the portable wireless device and, based on the use of the portable wireless device, authorizing initiation of the wagering game session and/or performing one or more activities via a wagering game application during the wagering game session.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2012Date of Patent: September 16, 2014Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Dale R. Buchholz, James J. Getz, Erhard W. Rathsack, Pamela S. Smith, Noel S. Steere
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Patent number: 8672744Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include determining, at a wagering game server, player account information associated with a plurality of players that are logged in at one or more predefined wagering game machines. The operations can also include determining a level of social interactivity to provide during game play to the plurality of players based, at least in part, on the player account information associated with the plurality of players. The operations can further include determining that a current level of social interactivity being provided during game play to the plurality of players is different than the level of social interactivity associated with the player account information, and dynamically changing a configuration of the one or more predefined wagering game machines to provide to the plurality of players the level of social interactivity associated with the player account information.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2011Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Timothy T. Gronkowski, Andrew C. Guinn, Scott A. Massing, Noel S. Steere
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Publication number: 20130252714Abstract: A wagering game system and its operations are described herein. In some embodiments, the operations can include detecting, wirelessly, an identifier associated with a portable wireless device. In some embodiments, the identifier is assigned to a wagering game player account. The operations can further include initiating a wagering game session for the wagering game player account, via a wagering game machine, in response to detecting the identifier. The operations can further include detecting, wirelessly, a use of the portable wireless device in response to player input via the portable wireless device and, based on the use of the portable wireless device, authorizing initiation of the wagering game session and/or performing one or more activities via a wagering game application during the wagering game session.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 6, 2012Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: WMS Gaming, Inc.Inventors: Dale R. Buchholz, James J. Getz, Erhard W. Rathsack, Pamela S. Smith, Noel S. Steere
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Patent number: 8303393Abstract: A gaming system includes at least one display configured to display a plurality of symbols positions. The plurality of symbol positions are configured to display symbols indicative of a randomly selected outcome of a wagering game in relation to a plurality of paylines. The gaming system further includes a controller configured to award an award for any winning outcome occurring along a payline and to add a number of winning paylines to a counter configured to track a number of winning paylines. The controller is further configured, in response to a number of winning paylines in the counter exceeding a predetermined threshold number, to activate a game feature in which a second award is awarded.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2008Date of Patent: November 6, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Joel R. Jaffe, Noel S. Steere
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Publication number: 20120258790Abstract: A gaming system and a method for conducting a wagering game includes a first gaming terminal and a second gaming terminal. The gaming system includes at least two input devices, at least two display devices and at least one processor. At least one memory device stores a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to operate with the at least two display devices and the at least two input devices. The processor operates to display primary wagering games to the first and second gaming terminals in response to receiving one or more wagers at the respective gaming terminals. A first perceived-value enhancement is displayed to the first gaming terminal. The first perceived-value enhancement is active for a first limited period of time and is capable of enhancing a subsequent bonus event. A bonus event is triggered and provided to at least one of the first and second gaming terminals.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 6, 2012Publication date: October 11, 2012Applicant: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Benjamin T. Gomez, Daniel P. Louie, Dion K. Aoki, Dylan B. Selegue, Noel S. Steere, Robin L. Littleworth
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Patent number: 8177621Abstract: A gaming machine for conducting a wagering game includes a basic wagering game and a bonus wagering game. The bonus wagering game has a skill-based component that involves skill and a random component where no skill is involved. The gaming machine uses the random component to compensate players for a lack of optimal play during the skill-based component. The compensation is provided in a manner that appears random to the players to prevent the players from intentionally playing for the compensation.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2006Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.Inventors: Joel R. Jaffe, Noel S. Steere
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Publication number: 20100248811Abstract: A gaming system includes at least one display configured to display a plurality of symbols positions. The plurality of symbol positions are configured to display symbols indicative of a randomly selected outcome of a wagering game in relation to a plurality of paylines. The gaming system further includes a controller configured to award an award for any winning outcome occurring along a payline and to add a number of winning paylines to a counter configured to track a number of winning paylines. The controller is further configured, in response to a number of winning paylines in the counter exceeding a predetermined threshold number, to activate a game feature in which a second award is awarded.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2008Publication date: September 30, 2010Applicant: WMS GAMNG INC.Inventors: Joel R. Jaffe, Noel S. Steere