Patents by Inventor Eric D. Colvin

Eric D. Colvin 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: 20210233361
    Abstract: A gaming machine and method include a monetary input device, a user interface configured to: enable a player to select a wager for a game of chance having a skill-based activity, to interact with the game of chance using a gaming input device. A processor is programmed to enable the player to win a prize based at least in part on input from the gaming input device, and to set at least one parameter of the skill-based activity or the gaming input device to a first difficulty for winning the prize during a first game of a gaming session including a plurality of games, and to adjust the parameter to modify the difficulty to a second difficulty for winning the prize during a subsequent game of the gaming session to maintain a predetermined percentage or percentage range of money or credits returned to the player (RTP) during the gaming session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric D. Colvin
  • Publication number: 20210233362
    Abstract: A gaming machine and method include a monetary input device, a user interface configured to: enable a player to select a wager for a game of chance having a skill-based activity, to interact with the game of chance using a gaming input device. A processor is programmed to enable the player to win a prize based at least in part on input from the gaming input device, and to set at least one parameter of the skill-based activity or the gaming input device to a first difficulty for winning the prize during a first game of a gaming session including a plurality of games, and to adjust the parameter to modify the difficulty to a second difficulty for winning the prize during a subsequent game of the gaming session to maintain a predetermined percentage or percentage range of money or credits returned to the player (RTP) during the gaming session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Publication date: July 29, 2021
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric D. Colvin
  • Patent number: 11011017
    Abstract: Systems and methods enable one or more players to play a wagering game having virtual cards. A game system includes a game server configured to connect to at least one mobile gaming device over a network. The game server includes a processor configured to provide a wagering game having virtual cards to a player using the gaming device. Each wagering game is played by players at a virtual table who are dealt virtual cards to form a hand, and the hand satisfying a winning criterion is determined to be a winning hand. The game system also includes a database that may be implemented as a non-relational database configured to be connected to the game server. The database is configured to store a state of the hands of each table as a plurality of document-oriented datasets. The mobile gaming device may automatically re-authenticate to the game server after a disconnection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Z4 Poker, LLC
    Inventors: Eric D. Colvin, Paul Zain, Matthew Joseph Kaufman, Tobias Block
  • Patent number: 10946110
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing ultraviolet (UV) sterilization, disinfection and decontamination of electronic gaming machines (EGMs), gaming chips, dice, playing cards, currency, TITO tickets, etc. The ultraviolet sterilization, disinfection and decontamination may include a plurality of UV LEDs or RGB-UV LEDs of such wavelengths to be effective in reducing or eliminating viruses or the like. Pass through or planar arrays of UV or RGB-UV LEDs are mounted to or installed within a variety of gaming devices or equipment such as EGMs, chip trays, dice holders, automatic card shufflers, bill validators, magnetic card readers, currency counting or currency dispensing devices, printers, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric D. Colvin, Keith Matthew Kruczynski, Sassoun Sarhadian
  • Patent number: 10850184
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing ultraviolet (UV) sterilization, disinfection and decontamination of electronic gaming machines (EGMs), gaming chips, dice, playing cards, currency, TITO tickets, etc. The ultraviolet sterilization, disinfection and decontamination may include a singular or plurality of UV lamps of any type or style or UV LEDs or RGB-UV LEDs or any type or style of UV LEDs of at least such wavelengths to be effective in at least partially reducing or eliminating viruses or the like. The UV sources are mounted on, in or proximate to a variety of gaming devices or equipment such as EGMs, mechanical gaming machines, chip trays, chippers, dice holders, automatic card shufflers, bill validators, currency counting devices, currency dispensing devices, printers, magnetic card readers, playing card and currency sterilization, disinfection or decontamination storage mechanisms, ATMs, redemption machines, promotional kiosks, etc., or similar devices used in other industries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric D. Colvin, Keith Matthew Kruczynski, Sassoun Sarhadian
  • Publication number: 20200357238
    Abstract: A player comp system and method may include a gaming device programmed to provide a game of chance to a player, at least one display, at least one device configured to receive a physical item representing a monetary value to increase a credit balance, at least one player input device configured to place a wager on the game of chance presented on the gaming device, at least one output device configured to provide a physical item with a redemption value based on gameplay, a visual notification output associated with a player comp status based on gameplay of the game of chance, and a computer server configured to receive gameplay data from the gaming device over a network, determine the comp status based on the received gameplay data, and communicate the comp status over the network to enable the visual notification output associated with the player comp status.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 27, 2020
    Publication date: November 12, 2020
    Applicant: Gaming Arts, LLC
    Inventors: David COLVIN, Eric D. COLVIN
  • Publication number: 20200302749
    Abstract: A gaming machine and method include a monetary input device, a user interface configured to: enable a player to select a wager for a game of chance having a skill-based activity, to interact with the game of chance using a gaming input device. A processor is programmed to enable the player to win a prize based at least in part on input from the gaming input device, and to set at least one parameter of the skill-based activity or the gaming input device to a first difficulty for winning the prize during a first game of a gaming session including a plurality of games, and to adjust the parameter to modify the difficulty to a second difficulty for winning the prize during a subsequent game of the gaming session to maintain a predetermined percentage or percentage range of money or credits returned to the player (RTP) during the gaming session.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2020
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: Gaming Arts, LLC
    Inventors: David COLVIN, Eric D. COLVIN
  • Patent number: 10726671
    Abstract: A player comp system and method may include a gaming device having a processor programmed to provide a game of chance to a player. A player comp indicator coupled to the gaming device is configured to receive gameplay information from the gaming device that may include amounts of one or more wagers placed via a user interface of the gaming device during the game of chance and provide a notification output based on the gameplay information when the player is eligible to receive a player comp. The notification may be a visual notification, such as a light, LED, or a voucher or ticket provided to the player or an attendant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Gaming Arts, LLC
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric D. Colvin
  • Patent number: 10685536
    Abstract: A wagering game system and method having an arcade-style bonus game to win a bonus prize or to select one of a plurality of bonus prizes include a gaming device with a processor programmed present a bonus game. The bonus game enables the player to play an arcade style game to win a bonus prize or to select one of a plurality of bonus prizes. The bonus game includes a plurality of targets, wherein the player is enabled to interact with at least one of the targets using a bonus prize selector that may be controlled by a bonus prize input device. The processor is programmed to adjust at least one parameter of the at least one target, prize selector, or input device to vary difficulty of the bonus game based on a skill level of the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Gaming Arts, LLC
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric D. Colvin
  • Patent number: 10679464
    Abstract: A wagering game system and method include a skill-based bonus game for a game of chance that enables a player to win a bonus prizes, the bonus game having a bonus prize input device configured to be manipulated by the player to perform a task having an outcome that determines the bonus prize. A processor adjusts difficulty of performing the task based upon a historical skill level of the player. The processor also adjusts the historical skill level of the player based on various parameters such as prize history, wagering history, and percentage returned to the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Gaming Arts, LLC
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric D. Colvin
  • Patent number: 10679465
    Abstract: A wagering game system and method having an arcade-style bonus game to win a bonus prize or select one of a plurality of bonus prizes include a gaming device having a monetary input device, a user interface, and a processor programmed to add the monetary value to a credit balance, deduct the selected wager from the credit balance, and decrease the credit balance in response to the cash out operation. The bonus game enables the player to win a bonus prize or to select a bonus prize. The bonus game includes targets, wherein the processor adjusts at least one attribute associated with target selection to adjust a probability of winning a prize or selecting particular ones of the plurality of bonus prizes. The attribute may be adjusted based on a skill level of the player and may include speed, size, number of targets, and/or accuracy of a target selector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: Gaming Arts, LLC
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric D. Colvin
  • Patent number: 10629031
    Abstract: Systems and methods provide a comp policy associated with a game of chance. A gaming device is programmed to provide the game of chance to a player. A computing device includes a memory device that stores data representative of a comp policy that includes at least one comp available to the player and at least one criterion for achieving the at least one comp. The computing device also includes a processor programmed to identify an attendant who is responsible for implementing the comp policy with regard to the player, receive data indicative of whether the at least one criterion was met, receive data indicative of whether the at least one comp was given to the player, and automatically calculate a compliance metric for the attendant, wherein the compliance metric is indicative of the attendant's compliance with the comp policy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Gaming Arts, LLC
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric D. Colvin
  • Publication number: 20200105099
    Abstract: A system includes providing a plurality of promotional games of chance, a randomization device configured to randomly select a result for the promotional game of chance, and a computing device programmed to determine the winning prize based on the results of the promotional game of chance. The promotional game of chance being played by the selected player on a player tablet via a game interface and viewable on a plurality of displays throughout the casino. The promotional game of chance operable for promotional games of chance, providing awards for casino games, and providing primary or secondary awards for casino side bets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric D. Colvin, Moises Navarrete
  • Publication number: 20200043288
    Abstract: Systems and methods enable one or more players to play a wagering game having virtual cards. A game system includes a game server configured to connect to at least one mobile gaming device over a network. The game server includes a processor configured to provide a wagering game having virtual cards to a player using the gaming device. Each wagering game is played by players at a virtual table who are dealt virtual cards to form a hand, and the hand satisfying a winning criterion is determined to be a winning hand. The game system also includes a database that may be implemented as a non-relational database configured to be connected to the game server. The database is configured to store a state of the hands of each table as a plurality of document-oriented datasets. The mobile gaming device may automatically re-authenticate to the game server after a disconnection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Publication date: February 6, 2020
    Inventors: Eric D. Colvin, Paul Zain, Matthew Joseph Kaufman, Tobias Block
  • Patent number: 10553076
    Abstract: Systems and methods include a gaming device configured to receive a monetary value and a user interface configured to enable a player to select a wager for a game of chance and enable the player to initiate a cash out operation. The gaming device also includes a processor programmed to add the monetary value to a credit balance for the player, deduct the selected wager from the credit balance, and decrease the credit balance in response to the cash out operation. A prize selector is also provided that includes a plurality of randomly or skill based or partially skill based selectable bonus prizes that are selectable by operating the prize selector to oscillate or rotate the prize selector until the prize selector stops at a stopping position. The player is enabled to influence the stopping or starting position of the prize selector to influence the prize that is selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: GAMING ARTS, LLC
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric D. Colvin
  • Patent number: 10504331
    Abstract: A wagering game system and method include a skill-based bonus game for a game of chance that enables a player to win a bonus prize or select one of a plurality of bonus prizes, the bonus game having a bonus prize input device configured to be manipulated by the player to perform a task having an outcome that determines whether the player wins a bonus prize or selects one of the bonus prizes. A processor adjusts difficulty of performing the task based upon identity of the player. Player identity may be determined by a reward card, mobile phone, tablet, or similar device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Gaming Arts, LLC
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric D. Colvin
  • Patent number: 10497217
    Abstract: A wagering game system and method having a skill-based arcade-style bonus game to win a bonus prize or to select one of a plurality of bonus prizes include a gaming device having a monetary input device, a user interface enabling a player to select a wager for a game of chance and initiate a cash out operation, and a processor programmed to add the monetary value to a credit balance, deduct the wager from the credit balance, and decrease the credit balance in response to the cash out operation. A skill-based bonus game enables the player to win or select a bonus prize and includes a plurality of player selectable indicia. The player is enabled to select winning combinations of the indicia to win or to select the bonus prize. The processor is programmed to adjust at least one bonus game parameter based on a skill level of the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Gaming Arts, LLC
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric D. Colvin
  • Patent number: 10497218
    Abstract: A wagering game system and method having a sports-themed bonus game to win a bonus prize, or to select one of a plurality of bonus prizes, include a gaming device having a monetary input device, a user interface, and a processor programmed to add the monetary value to a credit balance, deduct the selected wager from the credit balance, and decrease the credit balance in response to the cash out operation. The bonus game enables the player to win a bonus prize, or select one of a plurality of bonus prizes, using a bonus prize input device to control simulated motion of a displayed sports figure to perform a sports skill, wherein results of the sports skill determine whether the player wins the bonus prize, or which bonus prize is selected. The processor is programmed to adjust difficulty of the sports skill based upon a skill level of the player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Gaming Arts, LLC
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric D. Colvin
  • Patent number: D886206
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Gaming Arts, LLC
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric D. Colvin
  • Patent number: D927602
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Gaming Arts, LLC
    Inventors: David Colvin, Eric D. Colvin