Patents by Inventor Alfred Thomas

Alfred Thomas 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: 12106632
    Abstract: In some embodiments, in a system comprising a wagering game machine, the wagering gaming machine including a digital camera and a barcode recognition unit, a method includes: detecting, by the digital camera, a barcode within a field of view of the digital camera and capturing a picture of the barcode; via the barcode recognition unit, decoding the barcode to produce decoded barcode data; in response to the decoded barcode data representing a desired casino wagering game, determining whether the desired casino wagering game is installed on the wagering game machine; and, if the desired casino wagering game is installed on the wagering game machine, loading, initiating and presenting the desired casino wagering game on an electronic display device of the wagering game machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: LNW Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Timothy C. Loose, James M. Rasmussen, Victor T. Shi, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20240312309
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for providing time-based sticky wild features for use in multiplayer gaming tournaments are disclosed, including various mechanisms and techniques for distributing sticky wild patterns for use in provisioning such sticky wild features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Applicant: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Thomas, Joseph Masinter, II, Scott Burns, Larry Pacey
  • Publication number: 20240290165
    Abstract: A gaming device in accordance with some implementations includes a housing, a reel-spin initiation member, and a reel configured to spin in response to a user actuation of the reel-spin initiation member, the reel including a peripheral member having a plurality of symbols thereon and an array of light-emitting elements coupled to the reel. The gaming device also includes a controller coupled to the array of light-emitting elements and configured to selectively illuminate respective light-emitting elements of the array of light-emitting elements while the reel is rotating to produce an animated visual element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2024
    Publication date: August 29, 2024
    Inventors: Stephen Shaffer, JR., Frank Rodriguez, Joseph Masinter, II, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20240249593
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems and techniques for providing for wager-associated parameter control graphical state management. In such systems and techniques, a portion of one or more displays of an electronic gaming machine that is used to display all or part of a virtual button deck may be transitioned between two graphical states—one in which wager-associated parameter controls are in default positions and enabled for selection by users, and the other in which such controls are minimized or hidden and their wager-associated parameter functionality is disabled or otherwise non-usable by users.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2024
    Publication date: July 25, 2024
    Inventors: Alfred Thomas, Joel Osmond, Mercedes De Lugo, Sony Syamala, Natalie Bryant
  • Patent number: 12033471
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for providing time-based sticky wild features for use in multiplayer gaming tournaments are disclosed, including various mechanisms and techniques for distributing sticky wild patterns for use in provisioning such sticky wild features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2024
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Thomas, Joseph Masinter, II, Scott Burns, Larry Pacey
  • Patent number: 12027008
    Abstract: Various types of graphical leaderboards for electronic multiplayer gaming events are disclosed. Examples of player-specific graphical leaderboards that may be presented to individual players in the multiplayer gaming event to provide leaderboard information tailored to their own scores are disclosed, as well as player-agnostic graphical leaderboards that may present relative ranking information for a plurality of players in a player-non-specific manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Thomas, Jehoshua Josue, Scott Burns, Larry Joe Pacey
  • Publication number: 20240212422
    Abstract: Various types of graphical leaderboards for electronic multiplayer gaming events are disclosed. Examples of player-specific graphical leaderboards that may be presented to individual players in the multiplayer gaming event to provide leaderboard information tailored to their own scores are disclosed, as well as player-agnostic graphical leaderboards that may present relative ranking information for a plurality of players in a player-non-specific manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2024
    Publication date: June 27, 2024
    Inventors: Alfred Thomas, Jehoshua Josue, Scott Burns, Larry Joe Pacey
  • Patent number: 12020531
    Abstract: A gaming device in accordance with some implementations includes a housing, a reel-spin initiation member, and a reel configured to spin in response to a user actuation of the reel-spin initiation member, the reel including a peripheral member having a plurality of symbols thereon and an array of light-emitting elements coupled to the reel. The gaming device also includes a controller coupled to the array of light-emitting elements and configured to selectively illuminate respective light-emitting elements of the array of light-emitting elements while the reel is rotating to produce an animated visual element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Shaffer, Jr., Frank Rodriguez, Joseph Masinter, II, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20240169803
    Abstract: An electronic gaming system is described. The electronic gaming system includes a server computing device configured to receive an input from a first user computing device including a request to initiate an electronic game and assign a plurality of user devices to the electronic game. The server is further configured to identify a second player account as an initial play player account, wherein the initial play player account is designated to initiate a first play of the electronic game. The server is further configured to transmit content to a second user computing device that causes a gameplay user interface at the second user computing device to include a first display area including video images from a video stream from the second user computing device and a second display area including video images received by the server from a video stream received from the first user computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2024
    Publication date: May 23, 2024
    Inventors: Daniel Marks, Alfred Thomas, Hua Xu, Scott Burns, Joseph Masinter, II, Jehoshua Josue
  • Patent number: 11978312
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems and techniques for providing for wager-associated parameter control graphical state management. In such systems and techniques, a portion of one or more displays of an electronic gaming machine that is used to display all or part of a virtual button deck may be transitioned between two graphical states—one in which wager-associated parameter controls are in default positions and enabled for selection by users, and the other in which such controls are minimized or hidden and their wager-associated parameter functionality is disabled or otherwise non-usable by users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Thomas, Joel Osmond, Mercedes De Lugo, Sony Syamala, Natalie Bryant
  • Patent number: 11965546
    Abstract: A bearing module that supports adjacent ends of coaxial shafts, includes an outer ring having first and second axially adjacent raceways and first and second flanges located at the respective ends. A first group of rolling elements rolls on the first raceway, and a second group of rolling elements rolls on the second raceway. A first cage retains the first group of rolling elements circumferentially spaced apart from one another, and a second cage retains the second group of rolling elements. An axial bearing is retained axially between the first and second groups of rolling elements, and has axial bearing rolling elements that are configured for rolling contact with (a) facing axial side raceways on first and second inner rings supported respectively on the first and second groups of rolling elements, (b) the adjacent ends of the two coaxial shafts, or (c) integral washers of the axial bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Joseph T. Griffin, Florin Muscas, Arjun Kailassh Magalingam Adithyan, Alfred Thomas, James Brown
  • Publication number: 20240096181
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for enabling all wins multiplier features on gaming devices during multiplayer gaming tournament play. The all wins multiplier features may be simultaneously engaged on multiple gaming devices at a predetermined point in time, and may generally all simultaneously terminate the all wins multiplier feature at the same time. Multiple different all wins multiplier features using different multiplier values may be enabled at different times during a particular tournament session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2023
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Alfred Thomas, Scott Burns, Joseph Masinter, II, Larry Pacey
  • Publication number: 20240087410
    Abstract: Multi-currency digital wallet systems for use in casino gaming and other contexts are described. Such digital wallets may allow for balances of a variety of different types of currencies to be tracked and managed by a user. Multi-currency gaming machines are also described; such gaming machines may provide award amounts in different currencies dependent on a particular game outcome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Inventors: Michele Rousseau, Alfred Thomas, Larry Pacey, Boris Amegadjie, Joseph Louis Masinter, II
  • Patent number: 11928936
    Abstract: An electronic gaming system is described. The electronic gaming system includes a server computing device configured to receive an input from a first user computing device including a request to initiate an electronic game and assign a plurality of user devices to the electronic game. The server is further configured to identify a second player account as an initial play player account, wherein the initial play player account is designated to initiate a first play of the electronic game. The server is further configured to transmit content to a second user computing device that causes a gameplay user interface at the second user computing device to include a first display area including video images from a video stream from the second user computing device and a second display area including video images received by the server from a video stream received from the first user computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Marks, Alfred Thomas, Hua Xu, Scott Burns, Joseph Masinter, II, Jehoshua Josue
  • Publication number: 20240054850
    Abstract: A game involves selection between two opponents using a segmented wheel. Different jackpots and awards may be configured according to the odds of triggering the bonus game, selecting the opponents, selecting which of the opponents is the winner and which is the loser, selecting an order of the opponents (such as a home and visitor (or away) team), and so on. In various embodiments, one or more wheels may be displayed on a main screen associated with play of a game via multiple electronic gaming machines. Selections from the multiple electronic gaming machines may be used to alter game results on the main screen and/or the multiple electronic gaming machines, RTP, provide customized outputs to the main screen and/or the multiple electronic gaming machines, and so on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Joseph Masinter II, Alfred Thomas, Jehoshua Josue
  • Publication number: 20240054852
    Abstract: A game involves selection between two opponents using a segmented wheel. Different jackpots and awards may be configured according to the odds of triggering the bonus game, selecting the opponents, selecting which of the opponents is the winner and which is the loser, selecting an order of the opponents (such as a home and visitor (or away) team), and so on. In various embodiments, one or more wheels may be displayed on a main screen associated with play of a game via multiple electronic gaming machines. Selections from the multiple electronic gaming machines may be used to alter game results on the main screen and/or the multiple electronic gaming machines, RTP, provide customized outputs to the main screen and/or the multiple electronic gaming machines, and so on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Joseph Masinter, II, Alfred Thomas, Jehoshua Josue
  • Publication number: 20240054851
    Abstract: A game involves selection between two opponents using a segmented wheel. Different jackpots and awards may be configured according to the odds of triggering the bonus game, selecting the opponents, selecting which of the opponents is the winner and which is the loser, selecting an order of the opponents (such as a home and visitor (or away) team), and so on. In various embodiments, one or more wheels may be displayed on a main screen associated with play of a game via multiple electronic gaming machines. Selections from the multiple electronic gaming machines may be used to alter game results on the main screen and/or the multiple electronic gaming machines, RTP, provide customized outputs to the main screen and/or the multiple electronic gaming machines, and so on.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2023
    Publication date: February 15, 2024
    Inventors: Joseph Masinter, II, Alfred Thomas, Jehoshua Josue
  • Patent number: 11887440
    Abstract: Systems and techniques are provided for enabling all wins multiplier features on gaming devices during multiplayer gaming tournament play. The all wins multiplier features may be simultaneously engaged on multiple gaming devices at a predetermined point in time, and may generally all simultaneously terminate the all wins multiplier feature at the same time. Multiple different all wins multiplier features using different multiplier values may be enabled at different times during a particular tournament session.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Thomas, Scott Burns, Joseph Masinter, II, Larry Pacey
  • Patent number: 11861967
    Abstract: Multi-currency digital wallet systems for use in casino gaming and other contexts are described. Such digital wallets may allow for balances of a variety of different types of currencies to be tracked and managed by a user. Multi-currency gaming machines are also described; such gaming machines may provide award amounts in different currencies dependent on a particular game outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michele Rousseau, Alfred Thomas, Larry Pacey, Boris Amegadjie, Joseph Masinter, II
  • Patent number: D1041441
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Masinter, II, Alfred Thomas