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).

  • Publication number: 20230230454
    Abstract: A gaming system comprises game-logic circuitry and a display device that presents a wagering game having a plurality of states, where each state has substantially the same expected value, the same set of available outcomes, and a respective unique set of weight parameters associated with the set of available outcomes. The game-logic circuitry selects a first state for a first duration that has a first set of weight parameters, generates at least one game outcome from the available outcomes based on the first set of weight parameters and one or more random values, causes the display device to present the generated at least one game outcome, randomly selects a state for a second duration following the first duration, and generates one or more game outcomes through the second duration based on the respective set of weight parameters associated with the randomly selected state and one or more random values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2022
    Publication date: July 20, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher Guerrero, George Bouvier
  • Patent number: 11699327
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: LNW Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: Kimberly Cohn, George Bouvier, Kenneth Shawn Soong
  • Publication number: 20230154273
    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: November 18, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: George BOUVIER, Richard MILOSEVICH, John R. VALLEJO
  • Publication number: 20230154285
    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: November 17, 2021
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: Kimberly COHN, George BOUVIER, Kenneth Shawn SOONG
  • Publication number: 20230154287
    Abstract: A gaming machine includes a display device and game-logic circuitry that causes the display device to: present cycle outcomes by populating a symbol array with randomly selected symbols; lock any trigger symbols from the randomly selected symbols in the symbol array; present a subset counter for an array subset with locked trigger symbols; in response to a modifier event associated with a first trigger symbol locked within the subset, present a first award value associated with the first trigger symbol; in response to a number of trigger symbols within the subset meeting a trigger amount, provide an award at least partially as a function of the first award value; and in response to the subset counter meeting a termination count, remove any locked trigger symbols from the subset.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2022
    Publication date: May 18, 2023
    Inventors: George BOUVIER, Richard MILOSEVICH, Kenneth Shawn SOONG
  • Publication number: 20230103663
    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: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2022
    Publication date: April 6, 2023
    Inventors: Richard MILOSEVICH, George BOUVIER, Kenneth Shawn SOONG
  • Publication number: 20230098777
    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: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: March 30, 2023
    Inventors: Kimberly COHN, George BOUVIER, Christopher MARTINEZ, Richard MILOSEVICH, Madhu NELLORE BABU
  • Publication number: 20230065904
    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: November 10, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: George BOUVIER, Richard MILOSEVICH, Kenneth Shawn SOONG
  • Patent number: 11594106
    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 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SG Gaming, Inc.
    Inventors: George Bouvier, Richard Milosevich, Kenneth Shawn Soong
  • Publication number: 20230050242
    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: January 13, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: George BOUVIER, Kimberly COHN, John KEARNS
  • Publication number: 20230049403
    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 a plurality of award levels having respective awards and trigger conditions. The display device selectively populates the active array with symbols through one or more game cycle outcomes, provides, in response to failing to collect a first predetermined number of trigger symbols, a first jackpot award associated with a first award level, and, in response to collecting the first predetermined number of trigger symbols: (i) expands the active array, and (ii) repeats the selective population for one or more additional game cycle outcomes. At least one of the first jackpot award and a second jackpot award of the second award level is increased based at least partially on award values of value-bearing symbols populating the active array through the game cycle outcomes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: George BOUVIER, Kimberly COHN, John KEARNS
  • Publication number: 20230005339
    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: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher GUERRERO, George BOUVIER, Richard MILOSEVICH
  • Publication number: 20230005340
    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: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2021
    Publication date: January 5, 2023
    Inventors: Christopher GUERRERO, George BOUVIER, Richard MILOSEVICH
  • Publication number: 20220277613
    Abstract: A gaming machine comprising a display device and game-logic circuitry is provided. The display device presents a plurality of symbol positions and a plurality of symbol reels, each symbol reel comprising symbols and associated with at least one symbol position. The game-logic circuitry causes the display device to present a first game outcome by populating each symbol position with a symbol from the symbol reels; causes, in response to a trigger event, the display device to lock at least one symbol reel; causes the display device to present an unlocked symbol reel incrementing through at least a majority of its symbols by populating the associated symbol positions with a respective new symbol for each increment; determines, for each increment, a game outcome based on the symbols currently populating the symbol positions; and causes the display device to present an award animation for any winning game outcomes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Publication date: September 1, 2022
    Inventors: Richard MILOSEVICH, George BOUVIER, Kenneth Shawn SOONG
  • Publication number: 20210366237
    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 23, 2021
    Publication date: November 25, 2021
    Inventors: George BOUVIER, Richard MILOSEVICH, Kenneth Shawn SOONG
  • Patent number: 8331711
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image enhancement unit and a method of enhancing a first structure (S1) of samples into a second structure (S2) of samples, the first and the second structure both representing a first property of a scene and having a first resolution, based on a third structure (S3) of samples representing a second property and having the first resolution, the first property and the second property respectively representing different properties of substantially the same scene. The method comprising generating a fourth structure (S4) of samples representing the first property, the fourth structure (S4) of samples having a second resolution lower than the first resolution, by down-scaling first samples of the first structure (S1) of samples to form the samples of the fourth structure (S4) of samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Om Prakash Gangwal, Eric Peter Funke, Christiaan Varekamp, Mickael Stephane Bernard George Bouvier
  • Publication number: 20100002948
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image enhancement unit and a method of enhancing a first structure (S1) of samples into a second structure (S2) of samples, the first and the second structure both representing a first property of a scene and having a first resolution, based on a third structure (S3) of samples representing a second property and having the first resolution, the first property and the second property respectively representing different properties of substantially the same scene. The method comprising generating a fourth structure (S4) of samples representing the first property, the fourth structure (S4) of samples having a second resolution lower than the first resolution, by down-scaling first samples of the first structure (S1) of samples to form the samples of the fourth structure (S4) of samples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Om Prakash Gangwal, Eric Peter Funke, Christiaan Varekamp, Mickael Stephane Bernard George Bouvier