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).

  • Patent number: 8298089
    Abstract: In one aspect a switch can be placed on any existing video gaming machine. A player can be informed that they have the option to play other games on the video gaming machine. The switch can be either an icon on the video gaming machine's video or a physical switch. Once the player touches the icon or presses the physical switch as an indication of his or her interest to play other games a server can take control of the video display and its touch screen. Similarly, when the player is playing any of the additional games available on video gaming machine, there will be an icon or a switch button to offer the option to go back to the slot's original game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Next Gaming LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Merati, Robert J. Piechowiak, Roger H. Goeb
  • Publication number: 20120122539
    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: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Zak Khal, Moises Navarrete, Danny Patrick Daley, Bruce Merati
  • Patent number: 8162760
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing gaming services to remote game players. In one embodiment, a method of providing gaming services comprises providing one or more player game values to a first remote game player and a second remote game player, and receiving one or more mechanically-generated contingent game values by a processor, the one or more mechanically-generated contingent game values representing a number of game values needed to ensure game completion for each of the two or more remote game players. The method further comprises revealing one or more of the one or more mechanically-generated contingent game values to the first remote game player and the second remote game player over a communication network, and determining a final game result for the first and second remote game players based on at least the one or more mechanically-generated contingent game values revealed to the players and the player game values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: Bruce Merati
  • Publication number: 20100122320
    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: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Applicant: Next Gaming, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Merati, Roger H. Goeb, Darrell Wesley Buck
  • Publication number: 20080096630
    Abstract: In one embodiment a switch can be placed on any existing video gaming machine. A player can be informed that they have the option to play other games on the video gaming machine. The switch can be either an icon on the video gaming machine's video or a physical switch. Once the player touches the icon or presses the physical switch as an indication of his or her interest to play other games a server can take control of the video display and its touch screen. Similarly, when the player is playing any of the additional games available on video gaming machine, there will be an icon or a switch button to offer the option to go back to the slot's original game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Applicant: NEXT GAMING LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Merati, Robert J. Piechowiak, Roger H. Goeb
  • Publication number: 20080064479
    Abstract: In one aspect a switch can be placed on any existing video gaming machine. A player can be informed that they have the option to play other games on the video gaming machine. The switch can be either an icon on the video gaming machine's video or a physical switch. Once the player touches the icon or presses the physical switch as an indication of his or her interest to play other games a server can take control of the video display and its touch screen. Similarly, when the player is playing any of the additional games available on video gaming machine, there will be an icon or a switch button to offer the option to go back to the slot's original game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: NEXT GAMING LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Merati, Robert J. Piechowiak, Roger H. Goeb
  • Publication number: 20060020648
    Abstract: A method for secure generation of a random number. An RNG sequence is generated using an RNG algorithm and an RNG seed. The current position within the RNG sequence is advanced every specified time interval. At intermittent intervals, the current position within the RNG sequence is advanced by a random amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventors: Bruce Merati, Robert Nance
  • Publication number: 20060019749
    Abstract: A secure gaming system or platform. Client monitors accept user input and displaying game status and outcomes. No game processing or decisions occur at the client monitors. A game server is coupled to and remote from the client monitors, and comprises a processor for executing game programs based on user input supplied by the client monitor. The game server returns game outcomes to the client monitor for display. All game processing and intelligence takes place at the game server. A database logs all game outcomes, events and user input as provided by the game server. An audit server replays all games executed by the game server based on the events and user input provided by the game server, and compares the results with the database logs and game outcomes independently supplied to the audit server by the client monitor to verify and ensure the integrity of gaming activity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventors: Bruce Merati, Roberto Edwards
  • Patent number: 6811488
    Abstract: A system and method for providing an automated gaming service to one or more players can be implemented in a computer-based environment allowing automated computation of wagers, payouts, and other gaming parameters. The automated gaming system can be implemented in an Internet or other network-type environment such that various players can access the automated gaming system from remote locations, thus establishing a virtual gaming environment. Player accounts can be established and players can be granted access to the system and to their accounts. The accounts can be set up as debit-type accounts, whereby a player funds or replenishes his or her account in advance of wagering, using a credit card or other payment technique. Various gaming environments or formats can be established to provide flexibility in implementing the system and handling various games or other events. The system can use a pari-mutuel or guaranteed-payout gaming formats, among others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Virtgame Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Paravia, Bruce Merati
  • Publication number: 20030087701
    Abstract: A system and method for providing an automated gaming service to one or more players can be implemented in a computer-based environment allowing automated computation of wagers, payouts, and other gaming parameters. The automated gaming system can be implemented in an Internet or other network-type environment such that various players can access the automated gaming system from remote locations, thus establishing a virtual gaming environment. Player accounts can be established and players can be granted access to the system and to their accounts. The accounts can be set up as debit-type accounts, whereby a player funds or replenishes his or her account in advance of wagering, using a credit card or other payment technique. Various gaming environments or formats can be established to provide flexibility in implementing the system and handling various games or other events. The system can use a pari-mutuel or guaranteed-payout gaming formats, among others.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2002
    Publication date: May 8, 2003
    Applicant: Virtgame Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Paravia, Bruce Merati
  • Patent number: 6508710
    Abstract: A system and method for providing an automated gaming service to one or more players can be implemented in a computer-based environment allowing automated computation of wagers, payouts, and other gaming parameters. The automated gaming system can be implemented in an Internet or other network-type environment such that various players can access the automated gaming system from remote locations, thus establishing a virtual gaming environment. Player accounts can be established and players can be granted access to the system and to their accounts. The accounts can be set up as debit-type accounts, whereby a player funds or replenishes his or her account in advance of wagering, using a credit card or other payment technique. Various gaming environments or formats can be established to provide flexibility in implementing the system and handling various games or other events. The system can use a pari-mutuel or guaranteed-payout gaming formats, among others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: VirtGame Corp.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Paravia, Bruce Merati