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).

  • Publication number: 20210043043
    Abstract: Various systems and techniques for managing tournament sessions of multiplayer game tournaments using electronic gaming machines are provided. Such systems and techniques may be used to process win amounts achieved by players during a tournament session and turn such win amounts into score amounts for the purposes of multiplayer game tournament scoring. Further examples may provide for generating leaderboard updates, win messages, and other features relating to multiplayer game tournament play.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2020
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Inventors: Scott Burns, Larry Pacey, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 10902701
    Abstract: A system and method for delivering and licensing wager gaming content is described herein. In one embodiment, the system can include a wager gaming machine to receive gaming content, conduct wagering games based on the gaming content, and transmit information indicating how the wager gaming machine used the gaming content. The system can also include a download manager to receive the information indicating how the gaming content was used, and determine a fee for use of the gaming content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremy Hornik, Alfred Thomas, William Wadleigh
  • Publication number: 20210005057
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer readable media for providing a multiplayer game to players of a plurality of electronic gaming machines are described. When executed by a at least one processor, stored instructions cause the at least one processor to (i) cause to be displayed, on a multiplayer game display, a group metamorphic game element configured to interact with each of the plurality of electronic gaming machines, (ii) activate, during a first game play on a first electronic gaming machine, a multiplayer feature, (iii) cause the group metamorphic game element to transition one of the communal game elements from the multiplayer game display to an individual metamorphic game element associated with the first electronic gaming machine, and (iv) based on the transitioned communal game element, apply the activated multiplayer feature to a first game play on the first electronic gaming machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Alfred Thomas, Joseph Masinter, II
  • Publication number: 20210005051
    Abstract: An electronic gaming machine (EGM) archway includes a first EGM including at least one first curved display device, the at least one first curved display device defining a first portion of the archway. The EGM archway also includes a second EGM including at least one second curved display device, the at least one second curved display device defining a second portion of the archway, the second EGM spaced apart from and diametrically opposing the first EGM. In addition, the EGM archway includes an overhead display portion including at least one third display device, the at least one third display device defining a third portion of the archway, the overhead display portion extending overhead between the at least one first curved display device and the at least one second curved display device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2020
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Stephen Shaffer, JR., Frank Rodriguez, Bruce Urban, Alfred Thomas, Rajendrasinh Jadeja, Matthew McKay, Ariel Turgel, Daniel Harden, Elliot Ortiz, Hirotomi Teranishi, Joseph Kaminkow
  • Patent number: 10872495
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes: requesting, from a player at the gaming machine, player account credentials associated with the player; receiving, at the gaming machine, the player account credentials, wherein the player account credentials are associated with a player's account on the account server and enable linking game play on the gaming machine to the player's account, and wherein the player account credentials are provided to the player's mobile phone in response to joining a players club prior to detection of the initiation event; transmitting, via the gaming machine, the player account credentials to the account server; receiving, from the account server, validation of the player account credentials based on comparing the received player account credentials with credentials stored on the account server; upon receipt of the validation, linking a wagering game session on the gaming machine with the player account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: SG Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Timothy C. Loose, James M. Rasmussen, Victor T. Shi, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 10672228
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes: requesting, from a player at the gaming machine, player account credentials associated with the player; receiving, at the gaming machine, the player account credentials, wherein the player account credentials are associated with a player's account on the account server and enable linking game play on the gaming machine to the player's account, and wherein the player account credentials are provided to the player's mobile phone in response to joining a players club prior to detection of the initiation event; transmitting, via the gaming machine, the player account credentials to the account server; receiving, from the account server, validation of the player account credentials based on comparing the received player account credentials with credentials stored on the account server; upon receipt of the validation, linking a wagering game session on the gaming machine with the player account.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: SG GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Mark B Gagner, Damon E Gura, Timothy C Loose, James M Rasmussen, Victor T Shi, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20200111309
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes: requesting, from a player at the gaming machine, player account credentials associated with the player; receiving, at the gaming machine, the player account credentials, wherein the player account credentials are associated with a player's account on the account server and enable linking game play on the gaming machine to the player's account, and wherein the player account credentials are provided to the player's mobile phone in response to joining a players club prior to detection of the initiation event; transmitting, via the gaming machine, the player account credentials to the account server; receiving, from the account server, validation of the player account credentials based on comparing the received player account credentials with credentials stored on the account server; upon receipt of the validation, linking a wagering game session on the gaming machine with the player account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Mark B. GAGNER, Damon E. GURA, Timothy C. LOOSE, James M. RASMUSSEN, Victor T. SHI, Alfred THOMAS
  • Publication number: 20200111310
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes: requesting, from a player at the gaming machine, player account credentials associated with the player; receiving, at the gaming machine, the player account credentials, wherein the player account credentials are associated with a player's account on the account server and enable linking game play on the gaming machine to the player's account, and wherein the player account credentials are provided to the player's mobile phone in response to joining a players club prior to detection of the initiation event; transmitting, via the gaming machine, the player account credentials to the account server; receiving, from the account server, validation of the player account credentials based on comparing the received player account credentials with credentials stored on the account server; upon receipt of the validation, linking a wagering game session on the gaming machine with the player account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Mark B. GAGNER, Damon E. GURA, Timothy C. LOOSE, James M. RASMUSSEN, Victor T. SHI, Alfred THOMAS
  • Publication number: 20200111311
    Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes: requesting, from a player at the gaming machine, player account credentials associated with the player; receiving, at the gaming machine, the player account credentials, wherein the player account credentials are associated with a player's account on the account server and enable linking game play on the gaming machine to the player's account, and wherein the player account credentials are provided to the player's mobile phone in response to joining a players club prior to detection of the initiation event; transmitting, via the gaming machine, the player account credentials to the account server; receiving, from the account server, validation of the player account credentials based on comparing the received player account credentials with credentials stored on the account server; upon receipt of the validation, linking a wagering game session on the gaming machine with the player account.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Publication date: April 9, 2020
    Inventors: Mark B. GAGNER, Damon E. GURA, Timothy C. LOOSE, James M. RASMUSSEN, Victor T. SHI, Alfred THOMAS
  • Publication number: 20200051395
    Abstract: A gaming machine platform includes a front display that is controllable to be opaque and display symbols during a first mode of operation, and controllable to be transparent to reveal a set of stepper motor driven reels during a second mode of operation. The front display may be part of larger display screen that displays peripheral reels that surround the front display. In one type of game, the front display displays a randomly selected array of symbols, and the peripheral reels display scatter symbols that are combinable with the front display symbols in a primary game to generate awards and possibly trigger a bonus game. When the bonus game is triggered, the front display becomes transparent to reveal the stepper driven reels for a bonus game. The bonus game may or may not use the peripheral reels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2019
    Publication date: February 13, 2020
    Inventors: Ben Gomez, James P. Jackson, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 10475294
    Abstract: A gaming machine displays a set of virtual center reels, creating an M×N array of symbols, and an independent set of virtual peripheral reels surrounding the M×N array. The peripheral reels are part of a secondary game, and each peripheral reel displays only one symbol position. The center reels contain at least one trigger symbol for trigging the secondary game. The center reels are displayed on a separate, set-back display to give the illusion of motorized mechanical reels. Awards are granted for winning symbol combinations on the center reels. If the trigger condition exists, a bonus award is granted for winning symbol combinations on the peripheral reels. The bonus award may be based on the number of peripheral symbols that match the displayed trigger symbol or may be based on other criteria. In one embodiment, the trigger symbols are only on one of the center reels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: GEMINI DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT, INC.
    Inventors: Ben Gomez, James P. Jackson, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 10428929
    Abstract: A planetary transmission assembly including a composite planetary staking pin is disclosed. The composite planetary staking pin fixes a planetary gear to a planetary carrier, and the planetary gear is supported on the composite planetary staking pin by rolling elements. The composite planetary staking pin includes an inner pin body having axial ends with circular grooves. The composite planetary staking pin is fixed to the planetary carrier via staking of the axial ends of the inner pin body. An outer sleeve of the composite planetary staking pin is fixed to the inner pin body. The outer sleeve defines a circumferentially extending helical channel that provides a lubricant flow path between an inlet defined by the planetary carrier and an outlet to the rolling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: SCHAEFFLER TECHNOLOGIES AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Charles Schwab, Dennis Roffe, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 10417877
    Abstract: A gaming machine displays a set of virtual center reels, creating an M×N array of symbols, and an independent set of virtual peripheral reels surrounding the M×N array. The peripheral reels are part of a secondary game, and each peripheral reel displays only one symbol position. The center reels contain at least one trigger symbol for trigging the secondary game. Each of the reels spins and randomly stops. Awards are granted for winning symbol combinations on the center reels. If the trigger symbol is displayed in the M×N array, or other trigger condition exists, a bonus award is granted for winning symbol combinations on the peripheral reels. The bonus award may be based on the number of peripheral symbols that match the displayed trigger symbol or may be based on other criteria. In one embodiment, the trigger symbols are only on one of the center reels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Gemini Digital Development, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Gomez, James P. Jackson, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 10410471
    Abstract: A gaming system for conducting a multi-player wagering game includes a multi-touch table surface that is touched by a handheld electronic wager input device (EWID) carried by a player for placing wagers on a wagering game displayed on the multi-touch table surface. Each EWID carried by a player has an associated unique identification code, which is linked to the respective player's account. Players indicate an amount to be wagered by touching the EWID to designated wager amount areas, then place the wager by touching the EWID to a designated wagering area. Because each EWID is uniquely associable with distinct player accounts, the gaming system can support any number of players placing wagers. The funds remain safe in the player account and no funds are stored on the EWID. Only the identification code is detected, which is compared with the associated player account before allowing that player to place wagers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Bally Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark B. Gagner, Timothy T. Gronkowski, Paul M. Lesley, Timothy C. Loose, Jim Motyl, James M. Rasmussen, Victor T. Shi, Alfred Thomas, Jesse Smith
  • Publication number: 20190242472
    Abstract: A planetary transmission assembly including a composite planetary staking pin is disclosed. The composite planetary staking pin fixes a planetary gear to a planetary carrier, and the planetary gear is supported on the composite planetary staking pin by rolling elements. The composite planetary staking pin includes an inner pin body having axial ends with circular grooves. The composite planetary staking pin is fixed to the planetary carrier via staking of the axial ends of the inner pin body. An outer sleeve of the composite planetary staking pin is fixed to the inner pin body. The outer sleeve defines a circumferentially extending helical channel that provides a lubricant flow path between an inlet defined by the planetary carrier and an outlet to the rolling elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Charles Schwab, Dennis Roffe, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 10319185
    Abstract: A gaming system and its operations include, for instance providing, for presentation via one or more electronic display devices associated with the gaming system, first digital content for a first application that is independent from a second application that concurrently presents second digital content via the one or more electronic display devices; intercepting, by the first application, data associated with the second digital content; determining, via one or more electronic processing units of the gaming system and based on the data, a relationship between the first digital content and the second digital content; and causing the second application to automatically modify presentation of the second digital content in response to determining the relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Mark B Gagner, Siva Kumar Krishnan, Larry J Pacey, Alfred Thomas, Matthew J Ward
  • Patent number: 10140814
    Abstract: A wagering game machine includes a processor and a wagering game module, executable on the processor, configured to present a wagering game on which monetary value can be wagered to a wagering game player. The machine includes a receiver configured to communicate with a transmitter of a mobile device to receive a mobile payment from the mobile device. The machine includes a bill validator that is communicatively coupled to the receiver. The bill validator configured to receive the mobile payment from the receiver, wherein the bill validator is configured to output a first communication to issue a first wagering game credit for the wagering game machine in response to receipt of a monetary bill, wherein in response to receipt of the mobile payment from the receiver the bill validator is configured to output a second communication to issue a second wagering game credit on the wagering game machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Peter R. Anderson, Dale R. Buchholz, Mark B. Gagner, Damon E. Gura, Alfred Thomas, Matthew J. Ward
  • Publication number: 20180330578
    Abstract: A gaming machine displays a set of virtual center reels, creating an M×N array of symbols, and an independent set of virtual peripheral reels surrounding the M×N array. The peripheral reels are part of a secondary game, and each peripheral reel displays only one symbol position. The center reels contain at least one trigger symbol for trigging the secondary game. The center reels are displayed on a separate, set-back display to give the illusion of motorized mechanical reels. Awards are granted for winning symbol combinations on the center reels. If the trigger condition exists, a bonus award is granted for winning symbol combinations on the peripheral reels. The bonus award may be based on the number of peripheral symbols that match the displayed trigger symbol or may be based on other criteria. In one embodiment, the trigger symbols are only on one of the center reels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Ben Gomez, James P. Jackson, Alfred Thomas
  • Publication number: 20180315277
    Abstract: A gaming machine displays a set of virtual center reels, creating an M×N array of symbols, and an independent set of virtual peripheral reels surrounding the M×N array. The peripheral reels are part of a secondary game, and each peripheral reel displays only one symbol position. The center reels contain at least one trigger symbol for trigging the secondary game. Each of the reels spins and randomly stops. Awards are granted for winning symbol combinations on the center reels. If the trigger symbol is displayed in the M×N array, or other trigger condition exists, a bonus award is granted for winning symbol combinations on the peripheral reels. The bonus award may be based on the number of peripheral symbols that match the displayed trigger symbol or may be based on other criteria. In one embodiment, the trigger symbols are only on one of the center reels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Ben Gomez, James P. Jackson, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 10115270
    Abstract: Club cards and tickets can be eliminated by providing an application that allows a player's mobile phone to process an image of an optical machine-readable representation of data. At the end of a wagering session on a WGM, the WGM can display a barcode representing a player's winnings, an achievement, game status, etc. The player takes a picture of the barcode with his or her mobile phone. The application on the phone processes the barcode image and automatically updates an account of the player in accordance with the data represented or carried by the barcode. For instance, the mobile phone sends a request to a wagering account server to electronically deposit the winnings, as represented by the barcode, in a wagering account associated with the player's club profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: BALLY GAMING, INC.
    Inventors: Mark B Gagner, Damon E Gura, Timothy C Loose, James M Rasmussen, Victor T Shi, Alfred Thomas