Patents by Inventor Colin Fong

Colin Fong 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: 10176664
    Abstract: Method and systems of gaming are provided herein. One method includes storing in a memory of the gaming system a plurality of reel strips sets, each reel strips set including a characteristic that is different from the other reel strips sets. The method may further include initiating a play of the game. The method may include selecting, at random, via the game controller, a reel strips set from the plurality of reel strips sets. The method also includes displaying, via the game controller, symbols in symbol display positions on the display of the gaming system. The method further includes evaluating, via the game controller, the selected symbols. The method further includes updating, via the game controller, a meter stored in the memory in accordance with the evaluation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Colin Fong, Matthew Chan
  • Patent number: 10127767
    Abstract: A gaming machine has display means and a game control means. A game is played in which one or more random events are displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. On the occurrence of a predefined event, the player is offered a choice of two or more different prize sets, each containing a plurality of prize outcomes. The prize is drawn from the prize set or sets selected. The sets of prizes may be presented on segments of wheels that can spin before stopping randomly on a segment which defines the prize outcome. Alternatively the sets of prizes are presented on the faces of dice which are arranged to spin before stopping with the front face of the die defining the prize won.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Edgar Pau, Colin Fong
  • Patent number: 10037649
    Abstract: A gaming system comprising: a display for displaying selected symbols in a plurality of columns of display positions corresponding to respective one of a plurality of reels; a random number generator; a memory storing reel strip data for each of the reels, the reel strip data specifying a sequence of reel strip positions and a symbol associated with each reel strip position, the reel strip data of a reel of the plurality of reels including expansion data associated with a reel strip position, the expansion data defining an expansion to apply to the reel strip and a probability that the expansion will be applied, the expansion defining a number of reel strip positions to be added to the reel strip, each added reel strip position having the same symbol as the symbol position with which the expansion data is associated; and a game controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD.
    Inventor: Colin Fong
  • Patent number: 9858768
    Abstract: Gaming systems, controllers, and associated methods are provided. An example gaming system includes a game controller arranged to control play of a game. The game includes a plurality of selectable game play characteristics. The game controller is arranged to control play of the game such that one or more of the selectable game play characteristics are played in the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Colin Fong
  • Patent number: 9734656
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a player interface (50) comprising a display on which a plurality of selectable symbol display positions are displayed to a player, the player interface (50) allowing a player to select one or more windows (700-703) defining respective ones of one or more subsets of the symbol display positions (600), and a game controller (60) arranged to select symbols for display at all symbol display positions (600), and to evaluate selected symbols within each selected window based on a win entitlement applying to the selected window to determine a game outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: Colin Fong
  • Publication number: 20170109962
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a plurality of reels, each reel comprising a plurality of symbols from a set of symbols, a symbol selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols from each reel for display, a reel selector arranged to select at least one reel, a function allocator arranged to allocate a function to at least one selected reel such that each displayed symbol on said at least one selected reel acquires the function, and a game outcome generator arranged to determine a game outcome based on the displayed symbols and on the function allocated to said at least one selected reel. A corresponding method of gaming is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2016
    Publication date: April 20, 2017
    Inventors: Colin Fong, Steven Johnson
  • Publication number: 20170084111
    Abstract: A gaming method and system, the method comprising providing one or more reels in a spinning reel game, the reels being displayed as three dimensional and displayed as provided with game symbols along and around the reels, displaying spinning of the reels and thereby sequentially displaying at least some of the game symbols displayed as provided along the reels, displaying rotating of the reels and thereby sequentially displaying at least some of the game symbols displayed as provided around the reels, stopping the spinning and the rotating of each of the reels at a respective stop position, and determining a game outcome based on at least some of the game symbols displayed when each of the reels is in its respective stop position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventor: Colin Fong
  • Publication number: 20170046913
    Abstract: A method of dynamically forming a dynamic reel strip to be used to generate a game outcome in an electronic gaming system. The method includes defining a dynamic reel strip. A plurality of reel strip positions of each reel includes a group of dynamically determined symbol positions, and fixed symbol positions. The method includes initiating a play of the game then updating each dynamic reel strip by selecting, at random, a fixed symbol position from a subset of the fixed symbol positions of the respective reel strip. The method further includes determining a symbol of the set of game symbols to occupy each dynamically determined symbol position of the group of dynamically determined symbol positions based on the selected fixed symbol position of the respective reel strip. Displaying, via a game controller, symbols in symbol display positions on a display of the gaming system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventor: Colin FONG
  • Publication number: 20170046912
    Abstract: Method and systems of gaming are provided herein. One method includes storing in a memory of the gaming system a plurality of reel strips sets, each reel strips set including a characteristic that is different from the other reel strips sets. The method may further include initiating a play of the game. The method may include selecting, at random, via the game controller, a reel strips set from the plurality of reel strips sets. The method also includes displaying, via the game controller, symbols in symbol display positions on the display of the gaming system. The method further includes evaluating, via the game controller, the selected symbols. The method further includes updating, via the game controller, a meter stored in the memory in accordance with the evaluation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Inventors: Colin FONG, Matthew CHAN
  • Publication number: 20170011582
    Abstract: A gaming system comprising: a display for displaying selected symbols in a plurality of columns of display positions corresponding to respective one of a plurality of reels; a random number generator; a memory storing reel strip data for each of the reels, the reel strip data specifying a sequence of reel strip positions and a symbol associated with each reel strip position, the reel strip data of a reel of the plurality of reels including expansion data associated with a reel strip position, the expansion data defining an expansion to apply to the reel strip and a probability that the expansion will be applied, the expansion defining a number of reel strip positions to be added to the reel strip, each added reel strip position having the same symbol as the symbol position with which the expansion data is associated; and a game controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventor: Colin Fong
  • Publication number: 20160358419
    Abstract: A gaming machine has display means and a game control means. A game is played in which one or more random events are displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. On the occurrence of a predefined event, the player is offered a choice of two or more different prize sets, each containing a plurality of prize outcomes. The prize is drawn from the prize set or sets selected. The sets of prizes may be presented on segments of wheels that can spin before stopping randomly on a segment which defines the prize outcome. Alternatively the sets of prizes are presented on the faces of dice which are arranged to spin before stopping with the front face of the die defining the prize won.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Edgar Pau, Colin Fong
  • Publication number: 20160314646
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a player interface (50) comprising a display on which a plurality of selectable symbol display positions are displayed to a player, the player interface (50) allowing a player to select one or more windows (700-703) defining respective ones of one or more subsets of the symbol display positions (600), and a game controller (60) arranged to select symbols for display at all symbol display positions (600), and to evaluate selected symbols within each selected window based on a win entitlement applying to the selected window to determine a game outcome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2016
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventor: Colin Fong
  • Patent number: 9430911
    Abstract: A gaming method and system, the method comprising providing one or more reels in a spinning reel game, the reels being displayed as three dimensional and displayed as provided with game symbols along and around the reels, displaying spinning of the reels and thereby sequentially displaying at least some of the game symbols displayed as provided along the reels, displaying rotating of the reels and thereby sequentially displaying at least some of the game symbols displayed as provided around the reels, stopping the spinning and the rotating of each of the reels at a respective stop position, and determining a game outcome based on at least some of the game symbols displayed when each of the reels is in its respective stop position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Colin Fong
  • Patent number: 9418511
    Abstract: A gaming machine has display means and a game control means. A game is played in which one or more random events are displayed on the display means and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine awards a prize. On the occurrence of a predefined event, the player is offered a choice of two or more different prize sets, each containing a plurality of prize outcomes. The prize is drawn from the prize set or sets selected. The sets of prizes may be presented on segments of wheels that can spin before stopping randomly on a segment which defines the prize outcome. Alternatively the sets of prizes are presented on the faces of dice which are arranged to spin before stopping with the front face of the die defining the prize won.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Edgar Pau, Colin Fong
  • Patent number: 9384624
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a player interface (50) comprising a display on which a plurality of selectable symbol display positions are displayed to a player, the player interface (50) allowing a player to select one or more windows (700-703) defining respective ones of one or more subsets of the symbol display positions (600), and a game controller (60) arranged to select symbols for display at all symbol display positions (600), and to evaluate selected symbols within each selected window based on a win entitlement applying to the selected window to determine a game outcome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: Colin Fong
  • Publication number: 20160158644
    Abstract: Disclosed is gaming apparatus, which may be a gaming system and a method of gaming implemented on gaming apparatus. A plurality of linked gaming machines are monitored for the occurrence of a first event. The number of occurrences of the first event for each gaming machine is recorded. On the occurrence of a second event, a bonus is awarded on each said gaming machine on which at least one monitored occurrence of the first event has occurred, the bonus award being dependent on the number of occurrences of the first event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2016
    Publication date: June 9, 2016
    Inventor: Colin Fong
  • Publication number: 20160140795
    Abstract: An electronic gaming system comprises a first video display, a second video display, and a game controller to select a plurality of symbols from a symbol set for display at respective ones of a plurality of symbol display positions on the first video display. Upon a trigger condition being met, the game controller awards one or more wild symbols to be incorporated into the symbol display independently of selection of the symbols from the symbol set, controls the second video display to display a first portion of a wild symbol awarding animation, and controls the first video display to display a second portion of the wild symbol awarding animation during which one or more animated objects shown in the first portion of the wild symbol awarding animation move to the first video display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Colin Fong, Billy Ho Ching Tam, Vinh Hoang Huynh, Gesa Murphy, Christian Salmon
  • Patent number: 9262889
    Abstract: Disclosed is gaming apparatus, which may be a gaming system and a method of gaming implemented on gaming apparatus. A plurality of linked gaming machines are monitored for the occurrence of a first event. The number of occurrences of the first event for each gaming machine is recorded. On the occurrence of a second event, a bonus is awarded on each said gaming machine on which at least one monitored occurrence of the first event has occurred, the bonus award being dependent on the number of occurrences of the first event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: ARISTOCRAT TECHNOLOGIES AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: Colin Fong
  • Patent number: 8998696
    Abstract: A gaming system comprising a plurality of linked gaming devices each individually operable to play a main game and a group game, whereby the group game is played by at least two teams of players of the linked gaming devices; and a group game controller arranged to conduct the group game upon initiation for the at least two teams and to determine which team is to be awarded a prize at completion of the group game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Colin Fong, Peter Woodlock
  • Patent number: 8888581
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which comprises a symbol selector arranged to select at least one player symbol at each level of a multilevel game from a set of symbols, an outcome generator arranged to determine at each level of the multilevel game a successful or unsuccessful game level outcome based on a comparison of the at least one selected player symbol with at least one reference symbol such that the player proceeds to a succeeding game level if the game outcome is successful and the player does not proceed to a succeeding game level if the game outcome is not successful. The gaming system also comprises a prize allocator arranged to allocate a prize to a player based on the game level the player has successfully completed. A corresponding method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Matthew Chan, Colin Fong, Edgar Pau