Patents by Inventor George BOUVIER

George BOUVIER 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: 11961368
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes an electronic display device configured to display an array of symbol positions and registers. The registers are associated with respective subsets of the symbol positions of the array. Game-logic circuitry directs the display device to animate a plurality of spins of symbol-bearing reels wherein, in each spin, the reels are spun and stopped to land symbols in the array. For each landed value-bearing symbol, the symbol value is added to the applicable register, and the landing position is tagged. In response to tagging all the symbol positions in a subset, that subset's register value is awarded and that subset's tags are cleared. In response to no value-bearing symbols landing in a subset during a reel spin, that subset's register and tags are cleared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: LNW Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Milosevich, George Bouvier, Kenneth Shawn Soong
  • Patent number: 11961369
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a gaming machine and game-logic circuitry. The gaming machine comprises a display device that presents a symbol array. The game-logic circuitry presents a first outcome by populating the symbol array with a plurality of symbols, locks, in response to the first outcome including at least one value-bearing symbol in a subset of the array, the value-bearing symbol in the subset, initiates a subset counter associated with the subset in response to the first outcome, presents at least one subsequent outcome by populating the array with another plurality of randomly selected symbols, locks any additional value-bearing symbols populating the subset, provides, in response to a number of value-bearing symbols meeting a trigger amount, an award as a function of values indicated by the locked value-bearing symbols, and, in response to the subset counter meeting a termination count, removes any locked value-bearing symbols from the subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: LNW Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: George Bouvier, Richard Milosevich, Kenneth Shawn Soong
  • Publication number: 20240119802
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises game-logic circuitry and a display device configured to display an active array of symbol positions. The game-logic circuitry establishes award levels having respective awards and respective array sizes and establishes a predefined path defining progression through the award levels. The display device selectively populates the active array with symbols through one or more game cycle outcomes, updates, in response to detecting a branching condition within the game cycle outcomes, the predefined path to a modified path such that progression from the first award level is altered from a second award level to a third award level, and, in response to progressing from the first award level to the third award level based on the modified path: (i) modifies the active array to the array size of the third award level, and (ii) repeats the selective population for one or more additional game cycle outcomes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Publication date: April 11, 2024
    Inventors: George BOUVIER, Kimberly COHN, John KEARNS
  • Publication number: 20240105020
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a display device configured to present a plurality of symbol positions and game-logic circuitry. The game-logic circuitry generates a game cycle counter for a game feature at an initial value, for each game cycle outcome of a plurality of game cycle outcomes, updates the current count of the game cycle counter and causes the display device to: (i) populate the symbol positions with randomly selected symbols and (ii) in response to the randomly selected symbols including an award symbol, present an award sequence for a set of award values associated with the award symbol, wherein the number of award values within the set of award values is at least partially a function of the current count of the game cycle counter. The game-logic circuitry further causes, in response to the current count reaching a termination value, the display device to conclude the game feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: George BOUVIER, Mario McGREGOR, Kenneth Shawn SOONG
  • Publication number: 20240062616
    Abstract: A gaming machine comprises a display device that presents a symbol array comprising a plurality of symbol positions divided into a plurality of position subsets and game-logic circuitry that causes the display device to: present the symbol array in a first initial state by presenting at least one static symbol position in each position subset and randomly allocating a first set of allocated symbol positions, generate game cycle outcomes by populating the symbol positions, in response to a trigger event, expand a first position subset to include an expanded symbol position, and present the symbol array transitioning from a final state associated with a reset condition to a second initial state by removing expanded symbol positions and the allocated positions from the symbol positions in the final state and randomly allocating a second set of allocated symbol positions among the position subsets to include with the static symbol positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2023
    Publication date: February 22, 2024
    Inventors: Kimberly COHN, George BOUVIER, Christopher MARTINEZ, Richard MILOSEVICH, Madhu NELLORE BABU
  • Patent number: 11893862
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises game-logic circuitry and a display device configured to display an active array of symbol positions. The game-logic circuitry establishes award levels having respective awards and respective array sizes and establishes a predefined path defining progression through the award levels. The display device selectively populates the active array with symbols through one or more game cycle outcomes, updates, in response to detecting a branching condition within the game cycle outcomes, the predefined path to a modified path such that progression from the first award level is altered from a second award level to a third award level, and, in response to progressing from the first award level to the third award level based on the modified path: (i) modifies the active array to the array size of the third award level, and (ii) repeats the selective population for one or more additional game cycle outcomes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: LNW Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: George Bouvier, Kimberly Cohn, John Kearns
  • Patent number: 11875645
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a display device configured to present a plurality of symbol positions and game-logic circuitry. The game-logic circuitry generates a game cycle counter for a game feature at an initial value, for each game cycle outcome of a plurality of game cycle outcomes, updates the current count of the game cycle counter and causes the display device to: (i) populate the symbol positions with randomly selected symbols and (ii) in response to the randomly selected symbols including an award symbol, present an award sequence for a set of award values associated with the award symbol, wherein the number of award values within the set of award values is at least partially a function of the current count of the game cycle counter. The game-logic circuitry further causes, in response to the current count reaching a termination value, the display device to conclude the game feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: LNW Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: George Bouvier, Mario McGregor, Kenneth Shawn Soong
  • Patent number: 11875644
    Abstract: A gaming machine comprises game-logic circuitry and a display device that presents a plurality of symbol positions. The game-logic circuitry causes the display device to: in response to a trigger event, present a multiplier region including a subset of the symbol positions, present one or more multiplier selectors that are associated with at least one symbol position of the subset and include a respective set of multipliers, present one or more game outcomes by populating the plurality of symbol positions with randomly selected symbols, select a multiplier for each multiplier selector associated with symbol positions being occupied by value-bearing symbols through the game outcomes, and update the award indicia for each of the value-bearing symbols associated with the multiplier selectors to indicate a respective updated award value at least partially as a function of an initial award value of the value-bearing symbol and the corresponding selected multiplier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: LNW Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Guerrero, George Bouvier, Richard Milosevich
  • Publication number: 20230419771
    Abstract: There is provided a gaming system and methods that utilize a presentation assembly configured to present a series of spins of a plurality of symbol-bearing reels including value-bearing symbols. Upon a triggering event, all value-bearing symbols contributing to the triggering event and any value-bearing symbols adjacent to them are added to a list of linked symbols. All value-bearing symbols are held in their positions in the array and the plurality of reels is spun again to land new symbols in unheld positions of the array. Any newly landed value-bearing symbols adjacent to a symbol in the set of linked symbols is added to the set of linked symbols and the process repeats for a certain number of spins. At the conclusion of the spins, an award based on the values borne by all symbols in the set of linked symbols is paid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Richard MILOSEVICH, Kenneth Shawn SOONG, George BOUVIER
  • Publication number: 20230401931
    Abstract: There is provided a gaming system and methods that utilize a presentation assembly configured to present a series of spins of a plurality of symbol-bearing reels arranged in multiple arrays. Upon the appearance of a catalyst symbol on one of the reels, at least one additional row of symbols is added between the arrays to join the arrays into a single large array to increase the probability of winning combinations of the symbols and to enable different types of winning combinations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Publication date: December 14, 2023
    Inventors: Richard MILOSEVICH, Kenneth Shawn SOONG, George BOUVIER
  • Patent number: 11842603
    Abstract: A gaming machine comprises a display device that presents a symbol array comprising a plurality of symbol positions divided into a plurality of position subsets and game-logic circuitry that causes the display device to: present the symbol array in a first initial state by presenting at least one static symbol position in each position subset and randomly allocating a first set of allocated symbol positions, generate game cycle outcomes by populating the symbol positions, in response to a trigger event, expand a first position subset to include an expanded symbol position, and present the symbol array transitioning from a final state associated with a reset condition to a second initial state by removing expanded symbol positions and the allocated positions from the symbol positions in the final state and randomly allocating a second set of allocated symbol positions among the position subsets to include with the static symbol positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: LNW Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Kimberly Cohn, George Bouvier, Christopher Martinez, Richard Milosevich, Madhu Nellore Babu
  • Publication number: 20230368616
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a presentation assembly of a gaming machine that presents a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of selectable award options including a first subset of selectable award options and a second subset of selectable award options and game-logic circuitry. The game-logic circuitry is configured to cause the presentation assembly to activate in response to an activation event, an award region associated with one or more symbol positions and having a region type from a group comprising at least a first region type associated with the first subset and a second region type associated with the second subset based on the activation event, randomly select, in response to a trigger symbol occupying the award region, an award option from the selectable award options based on the region type of the award region, and provide an award based at least partially on the selected award option.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Yanis TSOMBANIDIS, George BOUVIER, Jack CHESWORTH
  • Publication number: 20230334935
    Abstract: There is provided a gaming system, gaming machine, and method that utilize an electronic display device configured to display a plurality of symbol-bearing reels and a base game array. The base game array has a first configuration. The reels are spun and stopped to populate the base game array with symbols from the stopped reels. In response to the symbols including a combination of bonus-triggering symbols, the display device is configured to display a bonus game array having a second configuration different than the first configuration. The bonus-triggering symbols are randomly redistributed from the base game array to the bonus game array for use in a bonus game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: George BOUVIER, Richard MILOSEVICH, John R. VALLEJO
  • Patent number: 11783675
    Abstract: A gaming machine comprising a display device and game-logic circuitry that initiates a cycle counter and links a multiplier value to a symbol position. The display device selectively populates the symbol position with a value-bearing symbol including award indicia indicating an award value, updates the award indicia at least partially as a function of the award value and the multiplier value and locks, in response to the symbol position being populated by the value-bearing symbol, the value-bearing symbol within the symbol position and updates the award indicia based on the award value and the multiplier value, updates the cycle counter and the multiplier value in response to the symbol position remaining unpopulated, presents multiplier indicia associated with the updated multiplier value, and presents an award at least partially as a function of an award value indicated by award indicia of any locked value-bearing symbols within a plurality of symbol positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: LNW Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Guerrero, George Bouvier, Richard Milosevich
  • Publication number: 20230274616
    Abstract: There is provided a gaming system, gaming machine, and method that utilize an electronic display device configured to display a plurality of symbol-bearing reels and an indicator bearing a pay multiplier. For each spin outcome, the reels are spun and stopped to land symbols in an array. In response to the landed symbols including a catalyst symbol, the values on any value-bearing symbols in the array are multiplied by the pay multiplier and awarded, and the pay multiplier is then modified for a subsequent spin outcome(s) based on the type, e.g., color, of the catalyst symbol. In response to the landed symbols not including the catalyst symbol, no awards are provided for any value-bearing symbols in the array, and the pay multiplier stays the same for a subsequent spin outcome(s) until a catalyst symbol lands in the array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Kimberly COHN, George BOUVIER, Kenneth Shawn SOONG
  • Publication number: 20230267808
    Abstract: There is provided a gaming system, gaming machine, and method that presents a set of persistent enhancers as well as a plurality of symbols in an array corresponding to a plurality of symbol-bearing reels. The plurality of symbol-bearing reels bear game symbols. Each of the persistent enhancers is paired respectively with a separate one of a subset of the game symbols. The persistent enhancers persist across a plurality of game cycles of the game. Game-logic circuitry uses a random number generator to spin and stop the reels for a first game cycle, to populate the array with a portion of the game symbols. The game-logic circuitry detects, in response to the spinning and stopping, occurrence of one or more win events associated with one or more of the subset of the game symbols. In response to detecting a win event, the game-logic circuitry enhances an award for the win event using one of the persistent enhancers that is paired with a subset symbol displayed for the win event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Publication date: August 24, 2023
    Inventors: George BOUVIER, Kenneth Shawn SOONG
  • Publication number: 20230260371
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a gaming machine and game-logic circuitry. The gaming machine comprises a display device that presents a symbol array. The game-logic circuitry presents a first outcome by populating the symbol array with a plurality of symbols, locks, in response to the first outcome including at least one value-bearing symbol in a subset of the array, the value-bearing symbol in the subset, initiates a subset counter associated with the subset in response to the first outcome, presents at least one subsequent outcome by populating the array with another plurality of randomly selected symbols, locks any additional value-bearing symbols populating the subset, provides, in response to a number of value-bearing symbols meeting a trigger amount, an award as a function of values indicated by the locked value-bearing symbols, and, in response to the subset counter meeting a termination count, removes any locked value-bearing symbols from the subset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: George BOUVIER, Richard MILOSEVICH, Kenneth Shawn SOONG
  • Patent number: 11721165
    Abstract: There is provided a gaming system, gaming machine, and method that utilize an electronic display device configured to display a plurality of symbol-bearing reels and a base game array. The base game array has a first configuration. The reels are spun and stopped to populate the base game array with symbols from the stopped reels. In response to the symbols including a combination of bonus-triggering symbols, the display device is configured to display a bonus game array having a second configuration different than the first configuration. The bonus-triggering symbols are randomly redistributed from the base game array to the bonus game array for use in a bonus game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: LNW Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Milosevich, John R. Vallejo, George Bouvier
  • Publication number: 20230245528
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a display device configured to present a plurality of symbol positions and game-logic circuitry. The game-logic circuitry generates a game cycle counter for a game feature at an initial value, for each game cycle outcome of a plurality of game cycle outcomes, updates the current count of the game cycle counter and causes the display device to: (i) populate the symbol positions with randomly selected symbols and (ii) in response to the randomly selected symbols including an award symbol, present an award sequence for a set of award values associated with the award symbol, wherein the number of award values within the set of award values is at least partially a function of the current count of the game cycle counter. The game-logic circuitry further causes, in response to the current count reaching a termination value, the display device to conclude the game feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2022
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Inventors: George BOUVIER, Mario McGREGOR, Kenneth Shawn SOONG
  • Patent number: 11710379
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises a gaming machine and game-logic circuitry. The gaming machine comprises a display device that presents a symbol array. The game-logic circuitry presents a first outcome by populating the symbol array with a plurality of symbols, locks, in response to the first outcome including at least one value-bearing symbol in a subset of the array, the value-bearing symbol in the subset, initiates a subset counter associated with the subset in response to the first outcome, presents at least one subsequent outcome by populating the array with another plurality of randomly selected symbols, locks any additional value-bearing symbols populating the subset, provides, in response to a number of value-bearing symbols meeting a trigger amount, an award as a function of values indicated by the locked value-bearing symbols, and, in response to the subset counter meeting a termination count, removes any locked value-bearing symbols from the subset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: LNW Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: George Bouvier, Richard Milosevich, Kenneth Shawn Soong