Patents by Inventor Alexander C. Cohen

Alexander C. Cohen 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: 10431038
    Abstract: A gaming device including a plurality of unisymbol reels which are each selectively activated to generate a symbol at an active symbol position. After a plurality of symbols are generated by the unisymbol reels (wherein the number of generated symbols is based on a wagered on number of ways to win), the gaming device analyzes any associated symbols which are generated in active symbol positions over a requisite number of adjacent reel columns to determine whether the generated symbols form part or all of a winning symbol combination (i.e., a combination of associated or related symbols). The gaming device determines any outcomes associated with any formed winning symbol combinations and provides any determined outcomes to the player, wherein unlike a gaming device with paylines, any outcomes provided to the player are not determined based on the number of paylines which may pass through any displayed winning symbol combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Paulina Rodgers, Alexander C. Cohen
  • Patent number: 9558630
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gaming device, a gaming system and a method for operating a gaming device or gaming system with a plurality of progressive awards. The gaming device enables a player to select one of the progressive awards. The player's selection of which progressive award to play for is based, at least in part, on a relative probability of the player winning the selected progressive award compared to the relative probabilities of the player winning the non-selected progressive awards. After selecting which award to play for, the gaming device either provides the selected progressive award to the player or modifies the relative probability that the player will win the selected progressive award with one or more of any award selections remaining. Such a configuration enables the player to strategically select which award to play for and the order that the player will play for the awards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Alexander C. Cohen, Tonja M. Ferry, Adam Koby
  • Publication number: 20160217649
    Abstract: A gaming device including a plurality of unisymbol reels which are each selectively activated to generate a symbol at an active symbol position. After a plurality of symbols are generated by the unisymbol reels (wherein the number of generated symbols is based on a wagered on number of ways to win), the gaming device analyzes any associated symbols which are generated in active symbol positions over a requisite number of adjacent reel columns to determine whether the generated symbols form part or all of a winning symbol combination (i.e., a combination of associated or related symbols). The gaming device determines any outcomes associated with any formed winning symbol combinations and provides any determined outcomes to the player, wherein unlike a gaming device with paylines, any outcomes provided to the player are not determined based on the number of paylines which may pass through any displayed winning symbol combinations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Publication date: July 28, 2016
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Paulina Rodgers, Alexander C. Cohen
  • Patent number: 9311788
    Abstract: A gaming device including a plurality of unisymbol reels which are each selectively activated to generate a symbol at an active symbol position. After a plurality of symbols are generated by the unisymbol reels (wherein the number of generated symbols is based on a wagered on number of ways to win), the gaming device analyzes any associated symbols which are generated in active symbol positions over a requisite number of adjacent reel columns to determine whether the generated symbols form part or all of a winning symbol combination (i.e., a combination of associated or related symbols). The gaming device determines any outcomes associated with any formed winning symbol combinations and provides any determined outcomes to the player, wherein unlike a gaming device with paylines, any outcomes provided to the player are not determined based on the number of paylines which may pass through any displayed winning symbol combinations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Paulina Rodgers, Alexander C. Cohen
  • Publication number: 20150317879
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gaming device, a gaming system and a method for operating a gaming device or gaming system with a plurality of progressive awards. The gaming device enables a player to select one of the progressive awards. The player's selection of which progressive award to play for is based, at least in part, on a relative probability of the player winning the selected progressive award compared to the relative probabilities of the player winning the non-selected progressive awards. After selecting which award to play for, the gaming device either provides the selected progressive award to the player or modifies the relative probability that the player will win the selected progressive award with one or more of any award selections remaining. Such a configuration enables the player to strategically select which award to play for and the order that the player will play for the awards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Publication date: November 5, 2015
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Alexander C. Cohen, Tonja M. Ferry, Adam Koby
  • Patent number: 9092941
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gaming device, a gaming system and a method for operating a gaming device or gaming system with a plurality of progressive awards. The gaming device enables a player to select one of the progressive awards. The player's selection of which progressive award to play for is based, at least in part, on a relative probability of the player winning the selected progressive award compared to the relative probabilities of the player winning the non-selected progressive awards. After selecting which award to play for, the gaming device either provides the selected progressive award to the player or modifies the relative probability that the player will win the selected progressive award with one or more of any award selections remaining. Such a configuration enables the player to strategically select which award to play for and the order that the player will play for the awards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Alexander C. Cohen, Tonja M. Ferry, Adam Koby
  • Publication number: 20140038695
    Abstract: A gaming device including a plurality of unisymbol reels which are each selectively activated to generate a symbol at an active symbol position. After a plurality of symbols are generated by the unisymbol reels (wherein the number of generated symbols is based on a wagered on number of ways to win), the gaming device analyzes any associated symbols which are generated in active symbol positions over a requisite number of adjacent reel columns to determine whether the generated symbols form part or all of a winning symbol combination (i.e., a combination of associated or related symbols). The gaming device determines any outcomes associated with any formed winning symbol combinations and provides any determined outcomes to the player, wherein unlike a gaming device with paylines, any outcomes provided to the player are not determined based on the number of paylines which may pass through any displayed winning symbol combinations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony J. Baerlocher, Paulina Rodgers, Alexander C. Cohen
  • Patent number: 8591322
    Abstract: An electronic gaming system includes a server and a plurality of electronic gaming machines, each machine including a logic system configured for communication with the server, a memory and a theoretical coin-out meter. The memory includes instructions executable by the logic system for running on the gaming machine a persistence game having one or more recordable persistence states leading to a redeemable persistence award. Each persistence state has a persistence value representing a portion of the persistence award. The persistence game is interruptible at a first machine and resumable at a second machine at a recorded persistence state. The theoretical coin-out meter stores unawarded persistence values accumulated by the machine from advancing the persistence game during game play among the one or more persistence states. A persistence award redeemed at one of the machines is reconciled with unawarded persistence values accumulated at another one or more of the machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Alexander C. Cohen, Bryan D. Wolf, Paulina Rodgers, James A. Vasquez, Garrett Olson, Ty Cornell Jones
  • Patent number: 8328629
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) is configured to run a persistence game having one or more recordable persistence states transferable to another EGM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Alexander C. Cohen, Bryan D. Wolf, Paulina Rodgers, James A. Vasquez, Garrett Olson, Ty Cornell Jones
  • Patent number: 8262480
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, apparatus, and systems implementing techniques for providing input for playing a game of chance. A gaming machine includes a touch screen display. The touch screen display is configured to display input selections, auxiliary input selections, and auxiliary data. The touch screen display is further configured to receive game input corresponding to the input selections and auxiliary input corresponding to the auxiliary input selections. The received game input and auxiliary input are transmitted to a controller of the gaming machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Alexander C. Cohen, Paulina Rodgers, Janna B-Jensen, Chauncey Griswold, Leagh Beadell, Kirk Tedsen, Daniel Waller, James Stockdale, John Goodman, Mike Garamendi
  • Publication number: 20110111835
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) is configured to run a persistence game having one or more recordable persistence states transferable to another EGM.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Alexander C. Cohen, Bryan D. Wolf, Paulina Rodgers, James A. Vasquez, Garrett Olson, Ty Cornell Jones
  • Publication number: 20110111852
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, apparatus, and systems implementing techniques for providing input for playing a game of chance. A gaming machine includes a touch screen display. The touch screen display is configured to display input selections, auxiliary input selections, and auxiliary data. The touch screen display is further configured to receive game input corresponding to the input selections and auxiliary input corresponding to the auxiliary input selections. The received game input and auxiliary input are transmitted to a controller of the gaming machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Alexander C. Cohen, Paulina Rodgers, Janna B-Jensen, Chauncey Griswold, Leagh Beadell, Kirk Tedsen, Daniel Waller, James Stockdale, John Goodman, Mike Garamendi