Patents by Inventor Brian F. Saunders

Brian F. Saunders 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: 20140066167
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing multiway evaluation for a game including multi-component symbols that are utilized to determine one or more modifiers. In one embodiment, the gaming system is configured to operate a game associated with a plurality of reels including a plurality of individual symbols and a plurality of multi-component symbols including a plurality of the individual symbols. The gaming system displays a plurality of the symbols on the reels and determines a quantity of adjacent reels that each displays at least one instance of a first individual symbol. The gaming system determines a modifier for each of the adjacent reels based on a quantity of instances of the first individual symbol displayed by that reel, and determines any awards for the first individual symbol based on the determined quantity of adjacent reels and any determined modifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Brian F. Saunders, Ernest M. Lafky
  • Publication number: 20140066166
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing multiway evaluation for a game including multi-component symbols that are utilized to determine one or more modifiers. In one embodiment, the gaming system is configured to operate a game associated with a plurality of reels including a plurality of individual symbols and a plurality of multi-component symbols including a plurality of the individual symbols. The gaming system displays a plurality of the symbols on the reels and determines a quantity of adjacent reels that each displays at least one instance of a first individual symbol. The gaming system determines a modifier for each of the adjacent reels based on a quantity of instances of the first individual symbol displayed by that reel, and determines any awards for the first individual symbol based on the determined quantity of adjacent reels and any determined modifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Brian F. Saunders, Ernest M. Lafky
  • Publication number: 20140066168
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing multiway evaluation for a game including multi-component symbols that are utilized to determine one or more modifiers. In one embodiment, the gaming system is configured to operate a game associated with a plurality of reels including a plurality of individual symbols and a plurality of multi-component symbols including a plurality of the individual symbols. The gaming system displays a plurality of the symbols on the reels and determines a quantity of adjacent reels that each displays at least one instance of a first individual symbol. The gaming system determines a modifier for each of the adjacent reels based on a quantity of instances of the first individual symbol displayed by that reel, and determines any awards for the first individual symbol based on the determined quantity of adjacent reels and any determined modifiers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Brian F. Saunders, Ernest M. Lafky
  • Publication number: 20140011569
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method for determining one or more awards based on quantities of symbols included in one or more strings of related symbols. The gaming system is configured to operate a game associated with a plurality of symbols each associated with one of a plurality of first characteristics and one of a plurality of second characteristics. The gaming system displays a plurality of the symbols. The gaming system determines whether a set of the symbols displayed along a payline path associated with a payline forms a string of related symbols. Symbols are related if the symbols share at least one of: (a) a same one of the set of first characteristics, and (b) a same one of the set of second characteristics. The gaming system determines any award based on a length of the string of related symbols.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Brian F. Saunders, Scott A. Caputo
  • Publication number: 20140011564
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method configured to operate a game including a reflector symbol. The gaming system displays a plurality of symbols at a plurality of symbol display areas. If the reflector symbol is displayed at one of the symbol display areas along a payline path associated with a payline, the gaming system determines a reflected payline path associated with that payline that extends along the payline path associated with that payline to the displayed reflector symbol and back along the payline path. The gaming system determines whether the symbols displayed at the symbol display areas along the reflected payline path form one of a plurality of winning symbol combinations, and displays and provides any awards associated with any winning symbol combination displayed along the reflected payline path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Brian F. Saunders, Scott A. Caputo
  • Publication number: 20130303259
    Abstract: A gaming system and method providing a multi-dimensional symbol wagering game is provided. A player selects a payline, places a wager on the selected payline, and selects a plurality of a plurality of different symbols in a selection order. Symbols are generated and displayed at each of a plurality of symbol display positions. If at least a designated quantity of the symbol display positions associated with the selected payline displays any one of the selected symbols, the gaming system determines a display order of the generated and displayed symbols associated with the selected payline, and determines any awards associated with the selected payline based on a quantity of the symbol display positions associated with the selected payline that display the player selected symbols and a comparison of the selection order with the display order. Any awards are provided to the player. Cascading and rotating symbol features are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventor: Brian F. Saunders
  • Publication number: 20130267302
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids arranged at different depths. The multiple symbol display position grids at different depths provides that one or more of the symbols of at least a first symbol display position grid at a first depth are displayed to a player while one or more of the symbols of at least a second symbol display position grid at a second depth are not displayed to the player. When one or more symbols are removed from the first symbol display position grid at the first depth, before and/or after shifting the remaining displayed symbols from the first symbol display position grid into created empty symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid, one or more symbols from the second symbol display position grid at the second depth become exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventors: Brian F. Saunders, Scott A. Caputo
  • Publication number: 20130252701
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids arranged at different depths. The multiple symbol display position grids at different depths provides that one or more of the symbols of at least a first symbol display position grid at a first depth are displayed to a player while one or more of the symbols of at least a second symbol display position grid at a second depth are not displayed to the player. When one or more symbols are removed from the first symbol display position grid at the first depth, before and/or after shifting the remaining displayed symbols from the first symbol display position grid into created empty symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid, one or more symbols from the second symbol display position grid at the second depth become exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Brian F. Saunders, Scott A. Caputo
  • Publication number: 20130252705
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids arranged at different depths. The multiple symbol display position grids at different depths provides that one or more of the symbols of at least a first symbol display position grid at a first depth are displayed to a player while one or more of the symbols of at least a second symbol display position grid at a second depth are not displayed to the player. When one or more symbols are removed from the first symbol display position grid at the first depth, before and/or after shifting the remaining displayed symbols from the first symbol display position grid into created empty symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid, one or more symbols from the second symbol display position grid at the second depth become exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Brian F. Saunders, Scott A. Caputo
  • Publication number: 20130252706
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids arranged at different depths. The multiple symbol display position grids at different depths provides that one or more of the symbols of at least a first symbol display position grid at a first depth are displayed to a player while one or more of the symbols of at least a second symbol display position grid at a second depth are not displayed to the player. When one or more symbols are removed from the first symbol display position grid at the first depth, before and/or after shifting the remaining displayed symbols from the first symbol display position grid into created empty symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid, one or more symbols from the second symbol display position grid at the second depth become exposed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: September 26, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Brian F. Saunders, Scott A. Caputo
  • Patent number: 8512138
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system disclosed herein includes a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which retains, saves or stores zero, one or more of any symbols removed during the play of a primary cascading symbols game. In various embodiments, the gaming system disclosed herein includes a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which sequentially layers a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids at different depths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Brian F. Saunders
  • Patent number: 8496522
    Abstract: A cascading symbol game includes designated symbols such as wild symbols. In the cascading symbol game, a gaming device generates and displays a symbol from a plurality of symbols for each of a plurality of symbol positions. The gaming device removes at least one symbol from at least one of the plurality of symbol positions. The gaming device repositions at least one displayed symbol to another one of the symbol positions to create at least one empty symbol position. If a designated event occurred, the gaming device generates and displays at least one designated symbol, such as a wild symbol, in the at least one empty symbol position, wherein the at least one designated wild symbol is generated independent of the plurality of symbols. The gaming device displays any award associated with any winning symbol combination formed from the displayed symbols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Brian F. Saunders
  • Publication number: 20130190065
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system disclosed herein includes a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which retains, saves or stores zero, one or more of any symbols removed during the play of a primary cascading symbols game. In various embodiments, the gaming system disclosed herein includes a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which sequentially layers a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids at different depths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: Brian F. Saunders
  • Publication number: 20130190067
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system disclosed herein includes a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which retains, saves or stores zero, one or more of any symbols removed during the play of a primary cascading symbols game. In various embodiments, the gaming system disclosed herein includes a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which sequentially layers a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids at different depths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: Brian F. Saunders
  • Publication number: 20130190066
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the gaming system disclosed herein includes a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which retains, saves or stores zero, one or more of any symbols removed during the play of a primary cascading symbols game. In various embodiments, the gaming system disclosed herein includes a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which sequentially layers a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids at different depths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventor: Brian F. Saunders
  • Patent number: 8485901
    Abstract: A gaming system and method providing a multi-dimensional symbol wagering game is provided. A player selects a payline, places a wager on the selected payline, and selects a plurality of a plurality of different symbols in a selection order. Symbols are generated and displayed at each of a plurality of symbol display positions. If at least a designated quantity of the symbol display positions associated with the selected payline displays any one of the selected symbols, the gaming system determines a display order of the generated and displayed symbols associated with the selected payline, and determines any awards associated with the selected payline based on a quantity of the symbol display positions associated with the selected payline that display the player selected symbols and a comparison of the selection order with the display order. Any awards are provided to the player. Cascading and rotating symbol features are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Brian F. Saunders
  • Patent number: 8430737
    Abstract: A gaming system and method providing a multi-dimensional symbol wagering game is provided. A player selects a payline, places a wager on the selected payline, and selects a plurality of a plurality of different symbols in a selection order. Symbols are generated and displayed at each of a plurality of symbol display positions. If at least a designated quantity of the symbol display positions associated with the selected payline displays any one of the selected symbols, the gaming system determines a display order of the generated and displayed symbols associated with the selected payline, and determines any awards associated with the selected payline based on a quantity of the symbol display positions associated with the selected payline that display the player selected symbols and a comparison of the selection order with the display order. Any awards are provided to the player. Cascading and rotating symbol features are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Brian F. Saunders
  • Patent number: 8414380
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids arranged at different depths. The multiple symbol display position grids at different depths provides that one or more of the symbols of at least a first symbol display position grid at a first depth are displayed to a player while one or more of the symbols of at least a second symbol display position grid at a second depth are not displayed to the player. When one or more symbols are removed from the first symbol display position grid at the first depth, before and/or after shifting the remaining displayed symbols from the first symbol display position grid into created empty symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid, one or more symbols from the second symbol display position grid at the second depth become exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Brian F. Saunders, Scott A. Caputo
  • Patent number: 8371930
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids arranged at different depths. The multiple symbol display position grids at different depths provides that one or more of the symbols of at least a first symbol display position grid at a first depth are displayed to a player while one or more of the symbols of at least a second symbol display position grid at a second depth are not displayed to the player. When one or more symbols are removed from the first symbol display position grid at the first depth, before and/or after shifting the remaining displayed symbols from the first symbol display position grid into created empty symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid, one or more symbols from the second symbol display position grid at the second depth become exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Brian F. Saunders, Scott A. Caputo
  • Patent number: 8366538
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol game which utilizes a plurality of adjacent symbol display position grids arranged at different depths. The multiple symbol display position grids at different depths provides that one or more of the symbols of at least a first symbol display position grid at a first depth are displayed to a player while one or more of the symbols of at least a second symbol display position grid at a second depth are not displayed to the player. When one or more symbols are removed from the first symbol display position grid at the first depth, before and/or after shifting the remaining displayed symbols from the first symbol display position grid into created empty symbol display positions of the first symbol display position grid, one or more symbols from the second symbol display position grid at the second depth become exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Brian F. Saunders, Scott A. Caputo