Patents Examined by Andrew Kim
  • Patent number: 7794316
    Abstract: A gaming device which provides a plurality of multi-component offers to a player and displays each offer to the player. Each multi-component offer includes a plurality of components having sub-components. The player can independently accept each component. Once a player accepts a component, the player receives a value based on the sub-components associated with that accepted component. The player continues to play the bonus game until the player has accepted all of the components in the offers or until there are no offers remaining. The gaming device then provides an award to the player based on the values of the accepted components of the offers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Gregg J. Palmer, Bayard S. Webb, Megan Nicole Schlegel, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 7789754
    Abstract: One or more inputs, such as one or more cards from a deck of cards, to a card game are determined from one or more event results from a sporting event. A result of the card game is based at least on the one or more determined inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Asher, Howard W. Lutnick
  • Patent number: 7780531
    Abstract: A gaming system includes at least one community display, a first gaming machine, and a second gaming machine. The at least one community display displays a communal game that includes a plurality of elements. At least some of the plurality of elements have a communal value associated therewith. The first and second gaming machines have a respective first and second video display for displaying the plurality of elements. At least some of the plurality of elements have a first and second player value associated therewith. The first and second gaming machines determine the first and second player values by applying a respective first and second value-enhancement parameter to the communal values associated with at least some of the plurality of elements. The first value-enhancement parameter is different than the second value-enhancement parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Allon G. Englman, Larry J. Pacey, Peter R. Anderson, Jeremy M. Hornik
  • Patent number: 7780517
    Abstract: An operator configurable cash out menu that is displayed when a player presses the cash out button of a gaming device. The present invention provides for more flexible cash outs than in known gaming systems, wherein the player can select one or more methods of payment. The player can select an amount of money to be transferred to a casino account. The player can also select an amount of money to issue on a ticket that the gaming device prints and provides to the player, whereby the player can redeem the ticket for cash. The present invention also enables the player to select different amounts of money to cash out. The player can choose: (i) to have some or all of the amount transferred to the casino account; (ii) to have some or all of the amount issue as cash printed on a ticket; or (iii) to have some be transferred to the account and some issue on a ticket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mohammad Ali Saffari, Richard W. Poole, Larry R. Hollibaugh, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Patent number: 7775876
    Abstract: The invention is a method for tracking activities at a gaming machine and a system for player tracking. One embodiment of a method comprises generating data regarding individual activities associated with the operation of a gaming machine, transmitting the generated activity data to a remote location, storing the data at the remote location, and mining or manipulating the stored data based on one or more characteristics or criteria and generating an output. In one embodiment, the data is mined and the output is represented graphically, such as in a three-dimensional graph. In one embodiment, the generated data includes information regarding the identify of the player associated with the event, and the stored individual event data is mined to determine if the player has met criteria entitling the player to an award or “comp” separate from the awards provided by the gaming machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Rick Rowe
  • Patent number: 7775886
    Abstract: Advertising is targeted to a specific user of a user console. A product data request is received from a user console and includes a user identifier, user data, and at least a first product identifier. A user account record associated with the user identifier is identified. The user account record includes a subscription service level identifier and a user account history. The user data are then associated with the user account record. A product catalog is searched for any product related entries associated with the request, and when any product related entries associated with the product data request are found, each such product related entry is provided to the user console.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Shyam Krishnamoorthy, Daniel E. Walther, Daniel S. Holt, James Nicholas Helm, Jerry Paul Hook
  • Patent number: 7771264
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for playing a game of chance. The game of chance may include, for example, a lottery-type game. A result of the game of chance is revealed to a player in another medium. In one example, the result is revealed during multiple game instances of one or more online games. In one example, the online game is a prize wheel game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: GameLogic Inc.
    Inventors: Steven N. Kane, Dow Hardy, Mark E. Herrmann, Paul LaRocca, Bijan Sabet, Jason Yanowitz
  • Patent number: 7749075
    Abstract: A system for enabling a player to use residual credits on a gaming machine to provide the player with a chance to win a prize. the system includes means for determining a range of values as a function of a jackpot pool to generate randomly an outcome in the range of values, random number generation means for generating the random outcome, means for determining a range of outcome values of the player that provides a chance of the player winning the jackpot pool, and means for determining whether the generated random outcome matches any outcome value of the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty, Ltd.
    Inventor: Stephen William Byng
  • Patent number: 7749056
    Abstract: To provide a game system in which each of the players in turn controls a common character (operation object) so as to enjoy a continuous electric game; and to provide a game system in which a previous player who has been replaced by another player still has willing to participate in the game. There is provided a game system to which a plurality of players can access via respective operation terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Sega
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ando, Shiro Takehara, Akihito Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7748714
    Abstract: A card game and method of playing the card game is disclosed. The card game is premised on the game of Texas Hold'em and pits a player against one or more virtual players. Initially, the player places a blind wager and then the player and multiple virtual players are provided two hole cards. The player's two hole cards are provided face-up and each virtual player receives the hole cards face down. In one version, at least one virtual hand is eliminated from play during the game. Elimination criteria can be based on a ranking of the virtual player's hand or other suitable criteria. At the end of the game the player's hand is compared to each remaining virtual player's hand. If the player's hand outranks each virtual player's hand, the player wins a payout. A hand swap or exchange, “All In” wager and a side wager are other features of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Ernie M. Lafky, Paul E. Parker
  • Patent number: 7749069
    Abstract: Coin-operated player-operable entertainment machines, such as fruit machines with symbol-selecting reels, are linked to a common display device. The machines are used to play games which may result in wins, dependent upon at least one machine parameter. The machine parameter may be the percentage pay out for which the machines are set, i.e., the proportion of stake value returned as awards. The percentages may be different for different machines and this may be shown on the common display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: IGT-UK Limited
    Inventor: Dov L. Randall
  • Patent number: 7736222
    Abstract: The present invention is a gaming machine having a shuffle feature and a simultaneous multiple award feature. The method for conducting the shuffle feature includes displaying a plurality of value-based symbols in a random array where each of the plurality of value-based symbols displays a number indicating a value, increasing the displayed number of one of the plurality of value-based symbols in response to a player selection, rearranging the plurality of value-based symbols in view of the random array such that the rearranged plurality defines an award and awarding the award to the player. The method for conducting the simultaneous multiple award feature includes displaying an assemblage of selectable tiles that conceal an associated plurality of icons, receiving successive player selections of the tiles, selectively revealing a first group and a second group of related game-theme icons, selectively revealing a wild icon and simultaneously awarding a first and a second award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: WMS Gaming Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Casey, Jason C. Gilmore
  • Patent number: 7736236
    Abstract: A system reads an identifier from a hand of cards to identify the cards. For example, the system can read an identifier from a pair of cards forming the initial hand in blackjack, where the one card is face up and the other card is face down. The system determines the value of a hand of cards form the read identifiers. For example, the system can determine a value of an initial hand of two cards in blackjack, while only one card is face up. The system can inform a dealer of the value, or status based on value, of the hand. The system can determine whether cards forming a hand of cards are authentic by validating the cards based on the read identifier. The system can determine if the cards forming the hand of cards are in an expected sequence based on knowledge of the initial sequence of cards in a deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Bally Gaming International, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Soltys, Richard Huizinga, Robert B. Mouchou
  • Patent number: 7708636
    Abstract: One or more inputs, such as a roll of one or more die, to a craps game are determined from one or more event results from a sporting event. A result of the craps game is based at least on the one or more determined inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: CFPH, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph M. Asher, Howard W. Lutnick
  • Patent number: 7628703
    Abstract: A central determination gaming system with a gaming terminal assisting a central controller in the generation of a game outcome. In one embodiment of the present invention, upon a player initiating a game play at one of a plurality of gaming terminals, the processor of the gaming terminal generates a random number. The generated random number is communicated to the central controller. The central controller uses the generated random number to select an available game outcome from a set or pool of predetermined game outcomes. The central controller marks or flags the selected game outcome in the pool as unavailable for subsequent selections and communicates the selected game outcome to the gaming terminal. The gaming terminal then provides the player the game outcome with the associated value, if any, for the selected game outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Bryan D. Wolf, Richard E. Michaelson
  • Patent number: 7537520
    Abstract: A modular bingo system (A) includes a separate primary console (10) and ball console (20). The ball console (20) includes: a bingo ball chamber (22) into which a plurality of numbered bingo balls are loaded and from which the bingo balls are dispensed in an unpredictable order; a ball tray (26) into which the operator places dispensed bingo balls; a first switch matrix (70) that identifies where bingo balls have been placed in the first ball tray (26); and, a ball console computer (40) that monitors the first switch matrix (70) and transmits data regarding its state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Arrow International, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Campo, Louis G. Rhodes, Michael J. Gallo, Brian W. Penrod, George P. Dudash, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7306462
    Abstract: A removable gas supply for a weapon simulator, wherein the gas system cycles the bolt or slide of the firearm to provide recoil, actuate a hammer/trigger mechanism and provide realism of the original weapon functions. The weapon simulator has a housing defining a piston chamber and a piston positioned in said chamber and connected to the bolt. The simulator also includes a valve chamber in the housing connected with said regulated gas supply and said bolt, and a recoil valve positioned in the valve chamber to control the release of gas from said regulated gas supply to said piston chamber to generate recoil in the weapon simulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: FATS, Inc.
    Inventors: Corey Howard Metcalfe, Henry Martin Wilson, Jr., Paul Heath Fleming
  • Patent number: 7169041
    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: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Michael T. Tessmer, Lee E. Cannon, Charlotte S. Centuori, Alan D. Williams