Patents by Inventor Kenneth E. Irwin, Jr.

Kenneth E. Irwin, Jr. 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: 20200027314
    Abstract: Methods are provided for allowing a plurality of players to wager or vote on one of a plurality of real world events being displayed on video displays that are potentially viewable by augmented reality (AR) devices, and monitor progress of the real world events and status of wagers or votes on the real world events using the AR devices. Each of the real world events are represented by a respective video feed that becomes displayed on the video displays. The AR devices are pointed at the video displays to identify the real world event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Eric M. PILNOCK, Kenneth E. IRWIN, JR., Michael T. DAY, Michael PILNOCK, Fred W. FINNERTY
  • Patent number: 10529187
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to electronically dispense a plurality of Electronic Instant Tickets (EITs) from a gaming microprocessor that is electronically programmed by a game service provider with a set of predetermined EITs. An Instant Ticket Vending Machine (ITVM) communicates with the gaming microprocessor to receive the EITs and display the results dictated by the EITs. The EITs allow the ITVM to operate independently of network communications with the game service provider and without providing predetermined outcomes embodied in a paper medium. Paper embodiments of the EITs associated with the gaming session and which are displayed on the display during the gaming session are printed. The dispensed printed paper embodiments of the EITs did not exist prior to the gaming session and are only printed upon game play of an EIT.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: Tapcentive, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Irwin, Jr., David Wentker
  • Publication number: 20190366749
    Abstract: A redundantly printed security-enhanced document, printing method and system ensure the meaning of the information imparted by variable indicia printed by redundant printing on the document with removable scratch-off coatings. By printing the variable indicia with multiple colors, redundancy and integrity of the intended indicia is achieved. Additionally, inverted color indicia countermeasures to pinprick attacks are also disclosed. The redundantly printed document, methods and systems enhance the overall appearance of the redundantly printed document, and reduce possible consequences resulting from misprinted variable indicia. The resultant printed process color indicia maintains a grayscale equivalent level of a process color greater than or equal to the measured grayscale equivalent level of the substrate surface plus an additional contrast delta of 15%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Fred W. FINNERTY, Kenneth E. IRWIN, JR.
  • Patent number: 10456661
    Abstract: A removable scratch-off document with a display portion, printing method and system ensuring the integrity and security of the document with variable win and lose variable information protected by a scratch-off coating by overprinting at least one of at least a part of the scratch-off coating and at least a part of the display portion using stochastic imaging. The resulting printed document is more attractive and consistent over varying surfaces, as well as more secure against illicit attempt to remove the scratch-off coating by lift and float techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Hydragraphix LLC
    Inventors: Fred W. Finnerty, Kenneth E. Irwin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10424152
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for allowing a plurality of consumers to each select his or her own fixed odds and associated winning payoff from a common universal drawing. The consumer selected custom odds are derived by subdividing one drawing event into a series of variable sized “bins” that reduce wagered odds to a subset of the greater odds of the universal drawing where the totality of generated bins thereby contains 100% of the possible drawing outcomes. A modulo operation is then performed to create a unique pointer position to a congruence number for each of the created previously created bins. Thus, any desired subset of reduced wagering odds can be achieved with the virtual creation of the corresponding number of bins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: SCA Promotions, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Hamman, Kenneth E. Irwin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10394409
    Abstract: A method and system are provided with instant probability tickets combined with gaming machines wherein the win/lose outcome of the probability game is determined by the subset selections the player makes from a superset comprising a multiplicity of possible game element spots. The gaming machines hold the purchased probability ticket in escrow in an internal region of the gaming machine such that the player cannot gain physical access to the probability ticket until he or she commits to a selection of subset game elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: Diamond Game Enterprises
    Inventors: Randee R. Kerns, James A. Breslo, William F. Breslo, Robert J. Siemasko, Kenneth E. Irwin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10377162
    Abstract: A redundantly printed security-enhanced document, printing method and system ensure the meaning of the information imparted by variable indicia printed by redundant printing on the document with removable scratch-off coatings. By printing the variable indicia with multiple colors, redundancy and integrity of the intended indicia is achieved. Additionally, inverted color indicia countermeasures to pinprick attacks are also disclosed. The redundantly printed document, methods and systems enhance the overall appearance of the redundantly printed document, and reduce possible consequences resulting from misprinted variable indicia. The resultant printed process color indicia maintains a grayscale equivalent level of a process color greater than or equal to the measured grayscale equivalent level of the substrate surface plus an additional contrast delta of 15%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Hydra Management LLC
    Inventors: Fred W. Finnerty, Kenneth E. Irwin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10366564
    Abstract: A system allows consumers to participate in draw games through the use of a personal, portable, secure, device (portable microprocessor) that accepts and stores wagers selected by a consumer, generates wagers on behalf of the consumer, and maintains secure virtual tickets for the consumer that can be authenticated and accepted by a gaming authority. The portable microprocessor interacts with either a user's mobile device or with a game terminal, which, in turn, communicates with a game server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Tapcentive, Inc.
    Inventors: David Wentker, Mike Lindelsee, Kenneth E. Irwin, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20190176023
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a secure substrate provides a print-ready surface for printing scratch-off products and eliminates the need to print lower security layers for protecting against attempts to view hidden indicia information. In one embodiment, a secure substrate comprises applying microperforations to a dyed substrate that meets a predefined transmission optical density to resist an attempt to reduce the opacity of the dyed substrate by delamination. In another embodiment, a secure substrate comprises applying a lower opacity layer and a lower background layer on a substrate to provide a secure substrate that meets a predefined transmission optical density. In another embodiment, a secure substrate comprises applying a lower opacity layer on a substrate, applying a reflective coating, and applying a lower background layer over the reflective coating to provide a secure substrate that meets a predefined transmission optical density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Inventors: Gavin Lee GAYNOR, Paul John STAMAS, Kenneth E. IRWIN, Jr., Fred W. FINNERTY
  • Publication number: 20190151749
    Abstract: A security-enhanced document includes a substrate and variable indicia comprising ink having a signal. The variable indicia is of a specific type and is applied to the substrate using a specific application technique. At least one other printed portion, which is a back of the document, has background ink noise, and the type of ink of the back of the document is of the same type of ink applied to the substrate using the same application technique as the ink of the variable indicia. The document also includes a scratch-off-coating applied over the variable indicia. The document has a signal-to-noise ratio of the ink of the variable indicia relative to the background ink noise of the back of the document that is not appreciable, thereby making the variable indicia unreadable with reference to the back of the document when the scratch-off-coating remains intact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Kenneth E. IRWIN, JR., Fred W. FINNERTY
  • Publication number: 20190152245
    Abstract: A redundantly printed security-enhanced document, printing method and system ensure the meaning of the information imparted by variable indicia printed by redundant printing on the document with removable scratch-off coatings. By printing the variable indicia with multiple colors, redundancy and integrity of the intended indicia is achieved. Additionally, inverted color indicia countermeasures to pinprick attacks are also disclosed. The redundantly printed document, methods and systems enhance the overall appearance of the redundantly printed document, and reduce possible consequences resulting from misprinted variable indicia. The resultant printed process color indicia maintains a grayscale equivalent level of a process color greater than or equal to the measured grayscale equivalent level of the substrate surface plus an additional contrast delta of 15%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2019
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Inventors: Fred W. FINNERTY, Kenneth E. IRWIN, JR.
  • Patent number: 10249144
    Abstract: A production method and system are provided for enabling the secure sharing of a common prize fund across multiple lottery or contest games and/or sub games. By sharing common inventory control and validation files the multiple games will validate on existing lottery or contest systems without the need for any software or hardware modifications. These methods and systems enhance the games, as well as potentially expand the consumer base for the games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Hydra Management LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Irwin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10232247
    Abstract: A redundantly printed security-enhanced document, printing method and system are provided for ensuring the meaning of the information imparted by variable indicia printed on documents with removable scratch-off coatings by the redundant printing. By printing the variable indicia with multiple colors, redundancy and integrity of the intended indicia is achieved. Additionally, inverted color indicia countermeasures to pinprick attacks are also disclosed. The redundantly printed document, methods and systems enhance the overall appearance of the redundantly printed document, and reduce the consequences possibly resulting from misprinted variable indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Hydra Management LLC
    Inventors: Fred W. Finnerty, Kenneth E. Irwin, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10210715
    Abstract: A number of mechanisms can reduce transaction costs and increase the economic viability of a number of products. A combination instant lottery ticket and debit card makes it possible to issue prepaid debit cards having a relatively low monetary value. A combination on-line ticket or receipt and debit card can automate the prize paying process, simplifying the retailer's responsibilities while reducing the potential for fraud. Various cash flow and authentication techniques, such as age and location verification, nano payment methods and spam filters based on these mechanisms are also described. Instant lottery tickets, and in particular, losing tickets, can be provided with a small residual value by placing account information on the ticket. In another version, a lottery ticket can be combined with a payment card that operates as a closed payment system whereby the payment card can only be used with a specified vendor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: LRB Patents LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Irwin, Jr., Paul Mather Lindsay
  • Patent number: 10183213
    Abstract: A printing method or system for making a security-enhanced scratch-off document and the document so made are disclosed. The security-enhanced document includes a substrate, variable indicia, at least one other printed portion having background noise, and a scratch-off-coating layer applied over the variable indicia to maintain the variable indicia unreadable until the scratch-off-coating is removed by being scratched off. The variable indicia includes ink having a signal-to-noise ratio relative to the background ink noise of the document's at least one other printed portion, such that the variable indicia are unreadable with reference to the at least one other printed portion when the scratch-off-coating remains intact. Additionally, digitally imaging countermeasures to unassisted and assisted mechanical SOC lift are also disclosed. These methods and systems enhance the overall appearance of the ticket as well as potentially reduce the time and setup costs between print runs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Hydra Management LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Irwin, Jr., Fred W. Finnerty
  • Patent number: 10185522
    Abstract: A method and system include digitally imaging a secure portion and a non-secure portion of scratch-off coating protected gaming documents of at least one game, the gaming documents including variable indicia, the gaming documents and the at least one game being associated with at least one overall print run, each print run including (i) a plurality of non-winning gaming documents and (ii) a plurality of winning gaming documents determined by revealing secure variable indicia according to predetermined game programming, and wherein at least the secure portion of digital imaging is hidden under the scratch-off coating. The secure portion can be encrypted into ciphertext with the non-secure portion remaining plaintext or cleartext. This enables digital imaging on demand across a local or distributed network of both secure and non-secure areas of instant lottery tickets or other documents having scratch-off coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Hydra Management LLC
    Inventors: Kenneth E. Irwin, Jr., Fred W. Finnerty, George Kurtz Peng, Allen Lorne Weil
  • Publication number: 20180345153
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for unlocking game play data on Near Field Communications (NFC) chips to allow for game play using the game play data on the NFC chips.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Kenneth E. IRWIN, JR., David WENTKER
  • Publication number: 20180335875
    Abstract: A method and system are provided with instant probability tickets combined with gaming machines wherein the win/lose outcome of the probability game is determined by the subset selections the player makes from a superset comprising a multiplicity of possible game element spots. The gaming machines hold the purchased probability ticket in escrow in an internal region of the gaming machine such that the player cannot gain physical access to the probability ticket until he or she commits to a selection of subset game elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Inventors: Randee R. KERNS, James A. BRESLO, William F. BRESLO, Robert J. SIEMASKO, Kenneth E. IRWIN, JR.
  • Patent number: 10130869
    Abstract: A security-enhanced document includes a substrate; at least one lower portion of graphic imaging with or without first variable indicia directly or indirectly digitally imaged on the substrate; at least one release coat applied over the lower portion; at least one SOC applied over the release coat to maintain the lower portion imaging unreadable until removal of the SOC; and at least one overprint upper portion with digital imaging of second variable indicia over the SOC, the overprint upper portion being registered to cover at least a part of the imaging of the lower portion, the overprint upper portion being associated with the lower portion, such that the upper portion has at least one associated feature imaged with respect to a visual or thematic aspect of the lower portion. The document enhances the popularity and fun of games using the document, and may expand the consumer base for the games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Hydra Management LLC
    Inventors: Fred W. Finnerty, Kenneth E. Irwin, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20180314473
    Abstract: A method and system include digitally imaging a secure portion and a non-secure portion of scratch-off coating protected gaming documents of at least one game, the gaming documents including variable indicia, the gaming documents and the at least one game being associated with at least one overall print run, each print run including (i) a plurality of non-winning gaming documents and (ii) a plurality of winning gaming documents determined by revealing secure variable indicia according to predetermined game programming, and wherein at least the secure portion of digital imaging is hidden under the scratch-off coating. The secure portion can be encrypted into ciphertext with the non-secure portion remaining plaintext or cleartext. This enables digital imaging on demand across a local or distributed network of both secure and non-secure areas of instant lottery tickets or other documents having scratch-off coatings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2016
    Publication date: November 1, 2018
    Inventors: Kenneth E. IRWIN JR., Fred W. FINNERTY, George Kurtz PENG, Allen Lorne WEIL