Patents by Inventor Bryan D. Wolf

Bryan D. Wolf 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: 20120094746
    Abstract: The gaming system disclosed herein accounts for game play over a gaming session in determining a bonus game attribute for a triggered bonus game. The gaming system maintains a plurality of different bonus game attributes. Each different bonus game attribute is associated with a different bonus game attribute modification event and an initial probability of that bonus game attribute being selected for a play of a bonus game. For each bonus game attribute modification event that occurs, the gaming system modifies the probability that the associated bonus game attribute will be selected for a play of a bonus game. Upon an occurrence of a bonus game triggering event, the gaming system randomly selects one of the maintained bonus game attributes. The gaming system then displays a bonus game and determines a bonus game award utilizing the selected bonus game attribute.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Alexander Casey Naglestad Cohen, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20120094748
    Abstract: A gaming machine connected in a gaming network or operating as a stand-alone machine, is capable of accepting two or more currencies for wager game play. The machine operates internally using a native monetary type and converts non-monetary bills to native amounts in the form of restricted or cashable credits. The multiple currency capability of the machine is utilized to encourage the use of restricted credits by adjusting conversion rates, payback tables, and the like. These features, combined with the use of restricted credits, also enable ways to monitor abuse and illegal activity on the gaming machine and implement ways to limit losses by a player. Certain post-conversion processes are used to ensure that the player is returned non-converted amounts. The gaming machine has additional hard and soft meters to process multiple monetary types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: William R. Brosnan, Bryan D. Wolf, Stephen W. Morro, Terrence Lee McCreary, JR., M. Ali Saffari, John W. Chamberlain
  • Publication number: 20120088578
    Abstract: The gaming system and method disclosed herein provides a plurality of players with an opportunity to win a plurality of progressive awards maintained by the gaming system. The gaming system accumulates a quantity of progressive event points for each player playing at one of the gaming machines in the gaming system. In one embodiment, the gaming system uses an accumulated quantity of progressive event points for a designated player to determine which one or more of the progressive awards the designated player wins. In another embodiment, the gaming system uses an accumulated quantity of progressive event points to determine the designated player's probability of winning one or more of the progressive awards. Accordingly, the gaming system provides a point-based system in which either a progressive award to win or a probability of winning a progressive award is determined based on the quantities of progressive event points accumulated by the players.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Ryan W. Cuddy, Mohammed A. Saffari, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Patent number: 8152624
    Abstract: A gaming device, system and method which enables a player to apply a large wager amount to a plurality of plays of a background game in increments or portions. The gaming device apportions or applies the large wager amount to a plurality of plays of a background game. The gaming device displays a play of the primary game to the player that provides a primary game outcome which has an award equal to the amount of the sum of the background game results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Peter Gerrard, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Patent number: 8150036
    Abstract: A base encryption method may be applied to plain data to form base encrypted data. An installation encryption method may be applied to the base encryption data to provide encrypted installation data. During installation, the encrypted installation data are encrypted to form encrypted storage data for storage on a storage medium such as a hard drive. Preferably, the data are not fully decrypted at any stage of the installation process. The host CPU may be minimally involved (or not involved) in the encryption/decryption process. Some embodiments provide a logic seal (a/k/a a “tell-tale circuit”) that monitors access to a machine. In some such implementations, an encryption/decryption key may be stored in the logic seal. When the logic seal is broken, countermeasures may be taken, e.g., at least some data may be deleted. For example, one or more cryptographic keys may be erased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Bronislav Paykin, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20120077573
    Abstract: A central determination gaming system including a plurality of gaming terminals in communication with a central controller. In one embodiment, upon initiation of a game at one of the gaming terminals, the gaming terminal randomly generates a proposed game outcome. The proposed game outcome is communicated to the central controller. The central controller determines if a pool of predetermined game outcomes includes the proposed game outcome. If the pool includes the proposed game outcome, the central controller authorizes the proposed game outcome to be provided to the player, flags the authorized game outcome from further authorizations and communicates the authorized game outcome to the gaming terminal. The gaming terminal then provides the authorized game outcome to the player. If the pool does not include the proposed game outcome, the central controller discards the proposed game outcome and instructs the gaming terminal to generate another proposed game outcome for authorization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Richard E. Michaelson, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20120077577
    Abstract: A central determination gaming system including a plurality of gaming terminals in communication with a central controller. In one embodiment, upon initiation of a game at one of the gaming terminals, the gaming terminal randomly generates a proposed game outcome. The proposed game outcome is communicated to the central controller. The central controller determines if a pool of predetermined game outcomes includes the proposed game outcome. If the pool includes the proposed game outcome, the central controller authorizes the proposed game outcome to be provided to the player, flags the authorized game outcome from further authorizations and communicates the authorized game outcome to the gaming terminal. The gaming terminal then provides the authorized game outcome to the player. If the pool does not include the proposed game outcome, the central controller discards the proposed game outcome and instructs the gaming terminal to generate another proposed game outcome for authorization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Richard E. Michaelson, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20120071232
    Abstract: The disclosed gaming system, gaming device and method provide a selection game having a plurality of selectable positions and a plurality of awards interdependently distributed or associated with the selectable positions. For one, a plurality, or all the selectable positions, the award associated with such selectable position is interdependent in that such award has a relationship to one or more of the awards associated with the selectable positions bordering such position. In various embodiments, the value of the award associated with such selectable position has a relationship to one or more of the values of the awards associated with the selectable positions bordering such position. Based on these interdependencies, when each of the selectable positions is selected, the award, or value of the award, associated with the position provides certain information which can be subsequently used to make better informed position selections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Binh T. Nguyen, Bryan D. Wolf, Paul D. Miltenberger, Scott A. Caputo
  • Publication number: 20120071237
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a display device and a processor coupled to the display device. The processor is configured to monitor at least one display property of a media display on the display device, detect that the at least one display property is equal or greater than a preselected threshold, and generate an alert in response to the detection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Inventors: Warner R. Cockerille, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20120058810
    Abstract: A central determination gaming system with a central controller providing a game outcome to an individual gaming terminal and the gaming terminal determining the presentation of the provided game outcome. In one embodiment of the present invention, a gaming terminal receives a predetermined game outcome from a central controller. The gaming terminal determines a game outcome presentation, (i.e., how the game outcome is displayed or presented to the player) for the provided game outcome by selecting a game outcome presentation seed for the received game outcome. The gaming terminal utilizes the selected game outcome presentation seed to determine a game outcome presentation. The determined game outcome presentation is displayed to the player and the received game outcome is provided to the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Richard E. Michaelson, Mark W. Bansemer, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20120058811
    Abstract: A central determination gaming system with a central controller providing a game outcome to an individual gaming terminal and the gaming terminal determining the presentation of the provided game outcome. In one embodiment of the present invention, a gaming terminal receives a predetermined game outcome from a central controller. The gaming terminal determines a game outcome presentation, (i.e., how the game outcome is displayed or presented to the player) for the provided game outcome by selecting a game outcome presentation seed for the received game outcome. The gaming terminal utilizes the selected game outcome presentation seed to determine a game outcome presentation. The determined game outcome presentation is displayed to the player and the received game outcome is provided to the player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Richard E. Michaelson, Mark W. Bansemer, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Patent number: 8109821
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gaming system including a central controller, a central display which includes a plurality of display segments and a plurality player stations. The display segments are configured to each separately display one of a plurality of games, to co-act to display a plurality of games, or to co-act to display one game. Each player station is configured to enable a player to play one or more of the games displayed by the display segments. The gaming system enables a plurality of players to play a group game on the central display, a plurality of players to simultaneously play multiple group games on the central display, and a plurality of players to each simultaneously play multiple individual games on the central display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: James K. Kovacs, Anthony J. Baerlocher, Michael M. Oberberger, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Patent number: 8092302
    Abstract: The gaming system and method disclosed herein provides a plurality of players with an opportunity to win a plurality of progressive awards maintained by the gaming system. The gaming system accumulates a quantity of progressive event points for each player playing at one of the gaming machines in the gaming system. In one embodiment, the gaming system uses an accumulated quantity of progressive event points for a designated player to determine which one or more of the progressive awards the designated player wins. In another embodiment, the gaming system uses an accumulated quantity of progressive event points to determine the designated player's probability of winning one or more of the progressive awards. Accordingly, the gaming system provides a point-based system in which either a progressive award to win or a probability of winning a progressive award is determined based on the quantities of progressive event points accumulated by the players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Ryan W. Cuddy, Mohammed A. Saffari, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Patent number: 8092299
    Abstract: The gaming system disclosed herein accounts for game play over a gaming session in determining a bonus game attribute for a triggered bonus game. The gaming system maintains a plurality of different bonus game attributes. Each different bonus game attribute is associated with a different bonus game attribute modification event and an initial probability of that bonus game attribute being selected for a play of a bonus game. For each bonus game attribute modification event that occurs, the gaming system modifies the probability that the associated bonus game attribute will be selected for a play of a bonus game. Upon an occurrence of a bonus game triggering event, the gaming system randomly selects one of the maintained bonus game attributes. The gaming system then displays a bonus game and determines a bonus game award utilizing the selected bonus game attribute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Alexander Casey Naglestad Cohen, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Patent number: 8079902
    Abstract: A central determination gaming system including a plurality of gaming terminals in communication with a central controller. In one embodiment, upon initiation of a game at one of the gaming terminals, the gaming terminal randomly generates a proposed game outcome. The proposed game outcome is communicated to the central controller. The central controller determines if a pool of predetermined game outcomes includes the proposed game outcome. If the pool includes the proposed game outcome, the central controller authorizes the proposed game outcome to be provided to the player, flags the authorized game outcome from further authorizations and communicates the authorized game outcome to the gaming terminal. The gaming terminal then provides the authorized game outcome to the player. If the pool does not include the proposed game outcome, the central controller discards the proposed game outcome and instructs the gaming terminal to generate another proposed game outcome for authorization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Richard E Michaelson, Bryan D Wolf
  • Patent number: 8079903
    Abstract: The disclosed gaming system, gaming device and method provide a selection game having a plurality of selectable positions and a plurality of awards interdependently distributed or associated with the selectable positions. For one, a plurality, or all the selectable positions, the award associated with such selectable position is interdependent in that such award has a relationship to one or more of the awards associated with the selectable positions bordering such position. In various embodiments, the value of the award associated with such selectable position has a relationship to one or more of the values of the awards associated with the selectable positions bordering such position. Based on these interdependencies, when each of the selectable positions is selected, the award, or value of the award, associated with the position provides certain information which can be subsequently used to make better informed position selections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Binh T. Nguyen, Bryan D. Wolf, Paul D. Miltenberger, Scott A. Caputo
  • Patent number: 8070578
    Abstract: A central determination gaming system with a central controller providing a game outcome to an individual gaming terminal and the gaming terminal determining the presentation of the provided game outcome. In one embodiment of the present invention, a gaming terminal receives a predetermined game outcome from a central controller. The gaming terminal determines a game outcome presentation, (i.e., how the game outcome is displayed or presented to the player) for the provided game outcome by selecting a game outcome presentation seed for the received game outcome. The gaming terminal utilizes the selected game outcome presentation seed to determine a game outcome presentation. The determined game outcome presentation is displayed to the player and the received game outcome is provided to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Richard E. Michaelson, Mark W. Bansemer, Bryan D. Wolf
  • Publication number: 20110281655
    Abstract: Various gaming-related services are provided, including but not limited to security services, harm minimization services, player identification services, bonusing/progressive services, accounting services, financial/banking services, network tunneling services, cheating detection services, etc. Such services may be provided, at least in part, by software agents that can be configured for different platforms and/or operating systems. Some software-based player tracking methods of the invention can aggregate data from multiple devices used by a player for gaming.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Binh Nguyen, Bryan D. Wolf, Brian Underdahl, Steven G. LeMay
  • Patent number: 8057298
    Abstract: Various gaming-related services are provided, including but not limited to security services, harm minimization services, player identification services, bonusing/progressive services, accounting services, financial/banking services, network tunneling services, cheating detection services, etc. Such services may be provided, at least in part, by software agents that can be configured for different platforms and/or operating systems. Some software-based player tracking methods of the invention can aggregate data from multiple devices used by a player for gaming.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Binh Nguyen, Bryan D. Wolf, Brian Underdahl, Steven G. LeMay
  • Publication number: 20110263308
    Abstract: A gaming system having a five card draw poker game is provided. An initial five card hand is dealt and a first draw card is revealed. The player may keep or discard the first draw card. After the player decides whether to keep or discard the first draw card, the player may replace cards in the initial hand. If the player selects to discard the first draw card, this card is not used as a replacement card to form a final hand. In certain implementations, the player first selects cards in the initial hand to replace. If the player elects to keep the first draw card, the gaming system displays a second draw card and the player may keep or discard the second draw card. This process continues until all discarded cards in the initial hand have been replaced or the player elects to discard one of the draw cards.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Anthony M. Evans, Mark C. Nicely, John F. Daley, Bryan D. Wolf, Scott A. Caputo