Patents by Inventor Bruce Merati

Bruce Merati 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: 20180182205
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing hybrid bingo games to online players. A bingo server receives electronic indications of actual bingo balls drawn by a person or a ball drawing machine from a set of actual bingo balls and eliminates electronic bingo ball values from an electronic set of bingo ball values corresponding to the actual bingo balls stored in a memory. The game server further randomly selects electronic bingo ball values from the electronic set of bingo ball values stored in memory, less any electronic ball values corresponding to actual bingo balls already drawn by the person or ball drawing machine. Finally, electronic bingo ball values not already drawn by the live person or ball drawing machine are provided to the online players.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2018
    Publication date: June 28, 2018
    Inventor: Bruce Merati
  • Patent number: 9905074
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and for providing a game to online game players over a network that combines physical gaming values produced at a location with electronical game values generated by the server, comprising receiving one or more electronic indications of the physical game values over a network from the location for use in playing the game, generating one or more electronic game values for use in playing the game, providing the one or more electronic game values to an online game player of the online game players over the network, providing the one or more electronic representations of the physical game values to the online game player over the network, and determining, by the processor, a final game result based on at least the one or more electronic representations and the one or more electronic game values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: Uplay1
    Inventor: Bruce Merati
  • Patent number: 9842459
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing hybrid bingo games to online players. A bingo server receives electronic indications of actual bingo balls drawn by a person or a ball drawing machine from a set of actual bingo balls and eliminates electronic bingo ball values from an electronic set of bingo ball values corresponding to the actual bingo balls stored in a memory. The game server further randomly selects electronic bingo ball values from the electronic set of bingo ball values stored in memory, less any electronic ball values corresponding to actual bingo balls already drawn by the person or ball drawing machine. Finally, electronic bingo ball values not already drawn by the live person or ball drawing machine are provided to the online players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Uplay1
    Inventor: Bruce Merati
  • Publication number: 20170330420
    Abstract: A variety of embodiments are described for determining two or more game payouts in a game based on both skill and chance. In one embodiment, a gaming device or gaming server determines a skill level of a player as the player plays a game, and then determines a chance payout based on a random number generator and a skill payout based on the skill level of the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventor: Bruce Merati
  • Publication number: 20170323519
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and for providing a game to online game players over a network that combines physical gaming values produced at a location with electronical game values generated by the server, comprising receiving one or more electronic indications of the physical game values over a network from the location for use in playing the game, generating one or more electronic game values for use in playing the game, providing the one or more electronic game values to an online game player of the online game players over the network, providing the one or more electronic representations of the physical game values to the online game player over the network, and determining, by the processor, a final game result based on at least the one or more electronic representations and the one or more electronic game values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventor: Bruce Merati
  • Publication number: 20170278340
    Abstract: A method for playing a game of chance which is played for prizes includes cards bearing numbers or other designations. In such a game, a holder of the card covers numbers or other designations when objects, similarly numbered or designated, are drawn or electronically determined. The game is won by the first person covering a previously designated number of numbers or other designations on such cards wherein at least some of the numbers or other designations are selected by a player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2017
    Publication date: September 28, 2017
    Inventors: Zak KHAL, Moises NAVARRETE, Danny Patrick DALEY, Bruce MERATI
  • Publication number: 20170243438
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a multi-jurisdictional wagering system are described for preforming actions to increase the diversity, volume and efficiency of a regulated wagering market. In one embodiment, the odds offered by an odds maker are distributed via a licensed disseminator to entities who are licensed to take wagers form punters within a regulated jurisdiction. In another embodiment, a system and method is described for a licensed entity to receive a guaranteed fee for offering wagering opportunities to punters, minimizing the financial exposures to the licensed entity for offering the wagering opportunities. In yet another embodiment, a hybrid wagering system is described that combines fixed odds wagering within a pari-mutuel framework.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Inventor: Bruce Merati
  • Publication number: 20170186268
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing hybrid bingo games to online players. A bingo server receives electronic indications of actual bingo balls drawn by a person or a ball drawing machine from a set of actual bingo balls and eliminates electronic bingo ball values from an electronic set of bingo ball values corresponding to the actual bingo balls stored in a memory. The game server further randomly selects electronic bingo ball values from the electronic set of bingo ball values stored in memory, less any electronic ball values corresponding to actual bingo balls already drawn by the person or ball drawing machine. Finally, electronic bingo ball values not already drawn by the live person or ball drawing machine are provided to the online players.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Publication date: June 29, 2017
    Inventor: Bruce Merati
  • Patent number: 9679442
    Abstract: Systems and methods for playing a game of chance include determining a winner based on the number of player indicia matching selected house indicia and continuing game play until at least one winner is determined. Embodiments include a fixed draw with prizes awarded to all players based on the number of player indicia matching house indicia, as well as a draw that continues until at least one player matches a predetermined number of house indicia. Embodiments include a player indicia selection device with available indicia arranged in rows having associated letters similar to a bingo flashboard. Player cards or tickets include at least some player indicia selectable by players, which may include players requesting an easy pick ticket with one or more randomly generated player indicia recorded at time of purchase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Gaming Arts, LLC
    Inventors: Zak Khal, Moises Navarrete, Danny Patrick Daley, Bruce Merati
  • Patent number: 9545569
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of providing gaming services to one or more game players by a gaming server, in one embodiment comprising receiving one or more electronic indications of mechanically-generated game values over a network from a remote location, eliminating one or more electronic game values each corresponding to one of the one or more electronic indications from a set of electronic game values to produce a remaining set of electronic game values, providing a first electronic game value from the remaining set of electronic game values to a first remote game player of the remote game players, providing a second electronic game value from the remaining set of electronic game values to a second remote game player of the remote game players, and determining a final game result based on at least the one or more indications, the first electronic game value, and the second electronic game value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Uplay1
    Inventor: Bruce Merati
  • Publication number: 20160171813
    Abstract: Various embodiments of a random game value generator are described for preforming one or more actions in response to detected events that occur at a gaming establishment. In one embodiment, the random game value generator generates random, physical game values for use in a non-electronic game played in the gaming establishment, comprising a sensory output device disposed around the random game value generator, a memory for storing processor-executable instructions and a processor, coupled to the sensory output device and the memory, for executing the processor-executable instructions that cause the random game value generator to determine that an event related to a gaming establishment has occurred while the non-electronic game is played that uses at least some of the plurality of physical game values, and in response to determining that the event has occurred, enable the sensory output device for a predetermined time period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Publication date: June 16, 2016
    Inventor: Bruce Merati
  • Publication number: 20160101347
    Abstract: Various apparatus and systems are described that allow variations on traditional games of chance. In one embodiment, a gaming system is described, comprising a gaming table, a first set of gaming values, and a second set of gaming values, wherein one or more gaming values from the first set of gaming values are randomly provided to a game player by a dealer during execution of a game played on the gaming table, and at least one of the second set of game values is randomly provided to the game player by the dealer during execution of the game in response to the game player requesting a game value from either the first or the second set of gaming values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventor: Bruce Merati
  • Publication number: 20150328544
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of providing gaming services to one or more game players by a gaming server, in one embodiment comprising receiving one or more electronic indications of mechanically-generated game values over a network from a remote location, eliminating one or more electronic game values each corresponding to one of the one or more electronic indications from a set of electronic game values to produce a remaining set of electronic game values, providing a first electronic game value from the remaining set of electronic game values to a first remote game player of the remote game players, providing a second electronic game value from the remaining set of electronic game values to a second remote game player of the remote game players, and determining a final game result based on at least the one or more indications, the first electronic game value, and the second electronic game value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventor: Bruce Merati
  • Patent number: 9092935
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of providing gaming services to one or more game players by a gaming server, in one embodiment comprising assigning game players to two or more virtual gaming tables, authorizing a first game player to participate in a game played on each of the two or more gaming tables, providing one or more game values to the first player, and excluding the one or more game values provided to the first player from consideration of being provided to any of the other game players that have been assigned to the two or more virtual gaming tables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Uplay1
    Inventor: Bruce Merati
  • Patent number: 8926434
    Abstract: Among other things, systems and techniques are described for authenticating one or more client devices. A system includes one or more client devices and a server to communicate with the one or more client devices over a network. The server receives a request for network connection from at least one of the client devices. In response to the received request, the server performs authentication of the requesting client device based on at least two factors. The at least two factors includes a transmission control protocol (TCP) header verification to identify a media access control (MAC) address of the requesting client device as an authorized or unauthorized MAC address; and a challenge-reply verification performed based on the TCP header verification. The challenge-reply verification includes sending a challenge message sent to the requesting client device; receiving a reply message from the requesting client device; and identifying the received reply message as a correct or incorrect reply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Next Gaming, LLC.
    Inventors: Bruce Merati, Roger H. Goeb, Darrell Wesley Buck
  • Publication number: 20140235325
    Abstract: A system, apparatus, and method for providing accounting between and among different gaming platforms, comprising a first gaming platform for allowing an individual to participate in a game being played on a second gaming platform, and for receiving a wager from the individual via the first gaming platform for use in the game, and a server coupled to the first gaming platform and the second gaming platform for determining an amount owed to the first gaming platform by the second gaming platform depending on an outcome of the wager.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Inventor: Bruce Merati
  • Patent number: 8414401
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a hybrid gaming service are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of providing hybrid gaming services to one or more remote game players by a gaming server comprises receiving an electronic representation of a mechanically-generated game value by the gaming server, excluding the electronic representation of the mechanically-generated game value from a first set of possible game values, generating one or more electronically-generated game values from the first set of possible game values, the one or more electronically-generated game values excluding the electronic representation of the mechanically-generated game value, and sending the one or more electronically-generated game values to a first remote game player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Inventor: Bruce Merati
  • Publication number: 20130079147
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of providing gaming services to one or more game players by a gaming server, in one embodiment comprising assigning game players to two or more virtual gaming tables, authorizing a first game player to participate in a game played on each of the two or more gaming tables, providing one or more game values to the first player, and excluding the one or more game values provided to the first player from consideration of being provided to any of the other game players that have been assigned to the two or more virtual gaming tables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventor: Bruce Merati
  • Publication number: 20130079146
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for providing a hybrid gaming service are disclosed. In one embodiment, a method of providing hybrid gaming services to one or more remote game players by a gaming server comprises receiving an electronic representation of a mechanically-generated game value by the gaming server, excluding the electronic representation of the mechanically-generated game value from a first set of possible game values, generating one or more electronically-generated game values from the first set of possible game values, the one or more electronically-generated game values excluding the electronic representation of the mechanically-generated game value, and sending the one or more electronically-generated game values to a first remote game player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventor: Bruce Merati
  • Patent number: D808468
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: Uplay1
    Inventor: Bruce Merati