Patents by Inventor Robert Linley Muir
Robert Linley Muir 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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Publication number: 20140066175Abstract: A gaming machine display (14) includes a game playing arrangement (16) mountable in a cabinet (62) of a gaming machine (10). An electronically controlled display element (50) overlies the game playing arrangement (16) so that, depending on a state of the display element (50), the game playing arrangement (16) is visible through the display element (50).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2013Publication date: March 6, 2014Applicant: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LTDInventors: Robert Linley Muir, Brett Mezen, Martin Lyons, Steve Flores
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Publication number: 20140038699Abstract: A gaming machine and a gaming system is described. Gaming machines may be reserved by operating a button panel. In certain embodiments the reserved gaming machine or a head system causes the printing of a ticket and when that ticket is read by a bill acceptor, the gaming machine unlocks. In other embodiments, reservation is made by other means, including player cards.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventors: Louis Lui, Robert Linley Muir, David Thomas Francis Curry, John Leslie Boesen, David Samuel Jack
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Publication number: 20130337896Abstract: A gaming system comprises a gaming server, a plurality of gaming machines, and a communications system connecting each of the plurality of gaming machines to the gaming server. The gaming machines each have a display, player controls, a player tracking device, and a game processor which displays sequential game images of a game being played. Each game processor plays a game initiated by the player, where the game is one of a plurality of games available on the gaming machine and selectable by the player. Each gaming machine includes game selection means which displays a selection of games available on the machine for the player to play. The games offered for selection are ordered according to a ranking determined as a function of the player's past history of playing games and a history of games played by other players.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2013Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITEDInventor: Robert Linley Muir
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Patent number: 8585499Abstract: A gaming machine display (14) includes a game playing arrangement (16) mountable in a cabinet (62) of a gaming machine (10). An electronically controlled display element (50) overlies the game playing arrangement (16) so that, depending on a state of the display element (50), the game playing arrangement (16) is visible through the display element (50).Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2006Date of Patent: November 19, 2013Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LtdInventors: Robert Linley Muir, Brett Mezen, Martin Lyons, Steve Flores
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Publication number: 20130288771Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming system and to a method of gaming. A gaming system comprises a game controller arranged to randomly display several symbols from a predetermined set of symbols and to determine a game outcome such as a game win based on the displayed symbols. Such gaming systems may be implemented as a stepper machine provided with reels or a video machine displaying “virtual” reels. One or more reels generated in play of a base game may be stored for later use in subsequent games. In a subsequent game or games, the game controller may select the stored reel to substitute for a reel generated by the game, in order to improve the game outcome. For example, the game outcome may become a “win” from a “lose” outcome. Or it may result in an improved win outcome. The one or more reels may be stored depending upon a trigger condition generated in the base game.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Inventors: Martin Stephen Lyons, Robert Linley Muir
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Patent number: 8533442Abstract: A boot program held in a BIOS memory device of a processing system is authenticated. At system start-up, a BIOS protection device temporarily prevents execution of the boot program by the central processor of the processing system by control of address and data paths. The BIOS protection device interrogates the contents of the BIOS memory device to establish authentication. If the contents of the BIOS memory device are not authentic, execution of the boot program is prevented.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2008Date of Patent: September 10, 2013Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd.Inventor: Robert Linley Muir
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Patent number: 8512118Abstract: A gaming machine and a gaming system is described. Gaming machines may be reserved by operating a button panel. In certain embodiments the reserved gaming machine or a head system causes the printing of a ticket and when that ticket is read by a bill acceptor, the gaming machine unlocks. In other embodiments, reservation is made by other means, including player cards.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2008Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventors: Louis Lui, Robert Linley Muir, David Curry, John Boesen, David Jack
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Patent number: 8506403Abstract: A gaming system comprises a gaming server, a plurality of gaming machines, and a communications system connecting each of the plurality of gaming machines to the gaming server. The gaming machines each have a display, player controls, a player tracking device, and a game processor which displays sequential game images of a game being played. Each game processor plays a game initiated by the player, where the game is one of a plurality of games available on the gaming machine and selectable by the player. Each gaming machine includes game selection means which displays a selection of games available on the machine for the player to play. The games offered for selection are ordered according to a ranking determined as a function of the player's past history of playing games and a history of games played by other players.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2011Date of Patent: August 13, 2013Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventor: Robert Linley Muir
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Publication number: 20130184066Abstract: A jackpot display system (10) for a gaming system, the jackpot display system comprising a display control device (14) arranged to receive jackpot data indicative of a plurality of current jackpot amounts, each jackpot amount being derived from games played on at least one gaming machine (40, 42), and a plurality of displays (16) in communication with the display control device (14). The display control device (14) is arranged to selectively associate at least some of the displays (16) with respective jackpot amounts so that during use jackpot amounts are shown on the associated displays.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2012Publication date: July 18, 2013Inventors: Martin Stephen Lyons, Robert Linley Muir
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Patent number: 8425301Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming system and to a method of gaming. A gaming system comprises a game controller arranged to randomly display several symbols from a predetermined set of symbols and to determine a game outcome such as a game win based on the displayed symbols. Such gaming systems may be implemented as a stepper machine provided with reels or a video machine displaying “virtual” reels. One or more reels generated in play of a base game may be stored for later use in subsequent games. In a subsequent game or games, the game controller may select the stored reel to substitute for a reel generated by the game, in order to improve the game outcome. For example, the game outcome may become a “win” from a “lose” outcome. Or it may result in an improved win outcome. The one or more reels may be stored depending upon a trigger condition generated in the base game.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2008Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventors: Martin Stephen Lyons, Robert Linley Muir
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Patent number: 8360875Abstract: A jackpot display system (10) for a gaming system, the jackpot display system comprising a display control device (14) arranged to receive jackpot data indicative of a plurality of current jackpot amounts, each jackpot amount being derived from games played on at least one gaming machine (40, 42), and a plurality of displays (16) in communication with the display control device (14). The display control device (14) is arranged to selectively associate at least some of the displays (16) with respective jackpot amounts so that during use jackpot amounts are shown on the associated displays.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2008Date of Patent: January 29, 2013Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LimitedInventors: Martin Stephen Lyons, Robert Linley Muir
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Publication number: 20120272071Abstract: Verification of software to be run in a secure environment is performed by comparing a critical portion of the executable boot program code in an EPROM with code stored in a logic circuit. The comparison may be performed before the code to be verified is run or while it is running. in the event that the validation fails certain critical functions of the platform are inhibited to prevent fraudulent operation of the platform. The system is particularly applicable to gaming machines to avoid cheating.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Inventor: Robert Linley Muir
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Patent number: 8250372Abstract: Verification of software to be run in a secure environment is performed by comparing a critical portion of the executable boot program code in an EPROM with code stored in a logic circuit. The comparison may be performed before the code to be verified is run or while it is running. in the event that the validation fails certain critical functions of the platform are inhibited to prevent fraudulent operation of the platform. The system is particularly applicable to gaming machines to avoid cheating.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2000Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd.Inventor: Robert Linley Muir
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Publication number: 20120142427Abstract: A gaming system comprises a gaming server, a plurality of gaming machines, and a communications system connecting each of the plurality of gaming machines to the gaming server. The gaming machines each have a display, player controls, a player tracking device, and a game processor which displays sequential game images of a game being played. Each game processor plays a game initiated by the player, where the game is one of a plurality of games available on the gaming machine and selectable by the player. Each gaming machine includes game selection means which displays a selection of games available on the machine for the player to play. The games offered for selection are ordered according to a ranking determined as a function of the player's past history of playing games and a history of games played by other players.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2011Publication date: June 7, 2012Inventor: Robert Linley Muir
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Patent number: 8075402Abstract: A gaming system (100) comprises a gaming server (system controller) (54), a plurality of gaming machines (10), and a communications system (63) connecting each of the plurality of gaming machines (10) to the gaming server (53). The gaming machines (10) each have a display (14), player controls (22), a player tracking device, such as a card reader (24.3) for reading player tracking cards (27), and a game processor (34) which displays sequential game images of a game being played on the respective display (14). Each game processor (34) plays a game initiated by the player, where the game is one of a plurality of games available on the gaming machine (10) and selectable by the player. Each gaming machine (10) includes game selection means (16) which displays a selection of games (211-216 & 311-316) available on the machine for the player to play.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2004Date of Patent: December 13, 2011Inventor: Robert Linley Muir
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Publication number: 20110212771Abstract: A gaming machine, a gaming system and associated methods are described in which a player provides a player identifier (PID) and that identifier is used to configure the gaming machine. The identifier may include biometric data. The configuration information may include information on one or more limits on game play and an award may be provided if the limits are not exceeded. In other embodiments, limits on game play may be enforced, for example by terminating game play.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 7, 2011Publication date: September 1, 2011Applicant: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD.Inventors: John Francis Cromwell Carr-Gregg, Robert Linley Muir, Martin Stephen Lyons
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Publication number: 20110165941Abstract: A device such as a gaming console comprises a display screen and a game controller arranged to allow a player to play a game and awarding a prize or feature if a winning combination results. A mechanical display filter is configured to visually distinguish at least two portions of the display screen from one another. The mechanical display screen may have buttons, including buttons which actuate a touch screen. The display screen can be used to illuminate portions of the mechanical display screen to produce visual effects, including using complex lighting patterns. The display screen may be used to illuminate buttons forming part of a user interface, or a separate screen may be used to illuminate the buttons from behind the buttons.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 16, 2011Publication date: July 7, 2011Inventors: Cole Grundstedt, Robert Linley Muir
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Publication number: 20110078430Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) comprises a memory storing boot program code comprising first code; a central processing unit (CPU) arranged to access the memory and initiate a boot process by reading the first code from the memory; and a monitoring device having or with access to validation code and arranged to take at least one protective action if the first code does not match the validation code.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2010Publication date: March 31, 2011Inventors: James Ross McCoull, Robert Linley Muir
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Patent number: 7827397Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) comprises a memory storing boot program code comprising first code; a central processing unit (CPU) arranged to access the memory and initiate a boot process by reading the first code from the memory; and a monitoring device having or with access to validation code and arranged to take at least one protective action if the first code does not match the validation code.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2007Date of Patent: November 2, 2010Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty, Ltd.Inventors: James Ross McCoull, Robert Linley Muir
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Patent number: RE44449Abstract: A gaming machine having a display and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display. The game controller is arranged to play a game wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display and, if a predetermined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. During the playing of a first game, symbols related to the at first game are displayed on the display. When a trigger condition occurs, a feature game is commenced in which an arrangement of at least some of the symbols of the first game are incorporated as part of a larger image which comprises an image of the feature game, the at least some symbols of the first game contributing to an outcome of the feature game.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2011Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty LtdInventors: Robert Linley Muir, Colin Fong, Natalie Bryant