Patents by Inventor Connie Louise Thome

Connie Louise Thome 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: 10169954
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel method and devices for implementing progressive systems on networked gaming machines and associated network devices. Some preferred implementations of the invention allow a target progressive pool size to be selected and apply payouts such that the actual progressive pool size is not likely to exceed greatly the target progressive pool size. Some such implementations control the actual progressive pool size by applying a function to control percentages of the current progressive pool size payable to players of a wagering game on the networked gaming machines. The function may be a function of a current progressive pool size, target progressive pool size and bet size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Richard Michaelson, Connie Louise Thome, Christopher Deacon Reddicks
  • Publication number: 20180144583
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel method and devices for implementing progressive systems on networked gaming machines and associated network devices. Some preferred implementations of the invention allow a target progressive pool size to be selected and apply payouts such that the actual progressive pool size is not likely to exceed greatly the target progressive pool size. Some such implementations control the actual progressive pool size by applying a function to control percentages of the current progressive pool size payable to players of a wagering game on the networked gaming machines. The function may be a function of a current progressive pool size, target progressive pool size and bet size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Inventors: Richard Michaelson, Connie Louise Thome, Christopher Deacon Reddicks
  • Patent number: 9875616
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel method and devices for implementing progressive systems on networked gaming machines and associated network devices. Some preferred implementations of the invention allow a target progressive pool size to be selected and apply payouts such that the actual progressive pool size is not likely to exceed greatly the target progressive pool size. Some such implementations control the actual progressive pool size by applying a function to control percentages of the current progressive pool size payable to players of a wagering game on the networked gaming machines. The function may be a function of a current progressive pool size, target progressive pool size and bet size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Richard Michaelson, Connie Louise Thome, Christopher Deacon Reddicks
  • Publication number: 20150269812
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel method and devices for implementing progressive systems on networked gaming machines and associated network devices. Some preferred implementations of the invention allow a target progressive pool size to be selected and apply payouts such that the actual progressive pool size is not likely to exceed greatly the target progressive pool size. Some such implementations control the actual progressive pool size by applying a function to control percentages of the current progressive pool size payable to players of a wagering game on the networked gaming machines. The function may be a function of a current progressive pool size, target progressive pool size and bet size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Richard Michaelson, Connie Louise Thome, Christopher Deacon Reddicks
  • Patent number: 9053602
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and devices for implementing progressive systems on networked gaming machines. Some implementations allow a target progressive pool size to be selected and apply payouts such that the actual progressive pool size is not likely to exceed greatly the target progressive pool size. Some implementations control the actual progressive pool size by applying a function to control percentages of the progressive pool size payable to players. The function may be a function of a current progressive pool size, target progressive pool size and bet size. The function may cause relatively higher percentages to be payable to players when the current progressive pool amount is greater than a target progressive pool size and relatively lower percentages to be payable to players when the current progressive pool size is less than or equal to a target progressive pool size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Richard Michaelson, Connie Louise Thome, Christopher Deacon Reddicks
  • Patent number: 8771060
    Abstract: Techniques for providing progressive games in a gaming environment are disclosed. Progressive configuration data can effectively define one or more progressive games for a gaming environment that includes one or more gaming machines. The progressive gaming data can, for example, be provided as a set of rules (e.g., rules in an XSLT form). A progressive configurator uses the progressive configuration data and gaming data received from the gaming machines in order to effectively implement one or more progressive games. The gaming data can, for example, include information about a gaming machine (e.g., serial number, network, location), one or more games available on the gaming machine (e.g., type of the game, minimum and maximum bet for a game), and data regarding a specific game instance (e.g., amount wagered, outcome of a game instance).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Chris D. Reddicks, Connie Louise Thome, Jeremy J. Warner
  • Publication number: 20110195773
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel method and devices for implementing progressive systems on networked gaming machines and associated network devices. Some preferred implementations of the invention allow a target progressive pool size to be selected and apply payouts such that the actual progressive pool size is not likely to exceed greatly the target progressive pool size. Some such implementations control the actual progressive pool size by applying a function to control percentages of the current progressive pool size payable to players of a wagering game on the networked gaming machines. The function may be a function of a current progressive pool size, target progressive pool size and bet size.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Richard Michaelson, Connie Louise Thome, Christopher Deacon Reddicks
  • Patent number: 7980947
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel method and devices for implementing progressive systems on networked gaming machines and associated network devices. Some preferred implementations of the invention allow a target progressive pool size to be selected and apply payouts such that the actual progressive pool size is not likely to exceed greatly the target progressive pool size. Some such implementations control the actual progressive pool size by applying a function to control percentages of the current progressive pool size payable to players of a wagering game on the networked gaming machines. The function may be a function of a current progressive pool size, target progressive pool size and bet size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Richard Michaelson, Connie Louise Thome, Christopher Deacon Reddicks
  • Publication number: 20080234036
    Abstract: Techniques for providing progressive games in a gaming environment are disclosed. Progressive configuration data can effectively define one or more progressive games for a gaming environment that includes one or more gaming machines. The progressive gaming data can, for example, be provided as a set of rules (e.g., rules in an XSLT form). A progressive configurator uses the progressive configuration data and gaming data received from the gaming machines in order to effectively implement one or more progressive games. The gaming data can, for example, include information about a gaming machine (e.g., serial number, network, location), one or more games available on the gaming machine (e.g., type of the game, minimum and maximum bet for a game), and data regarding a specific game instance (e.g., amount wagered, outcome of a game instance).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Chris D. Reddicks, Connie Louise Thome, Jeremy J. Warner