Patents by Inventor Scott A. Caputo

Scott A. Caputo 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: 12293637
    Abstract: Gaming systems, gaming devices and methods that provide games that control volatility. In one embodiment, the gaming system disclosed herein enables a player to select values, or cells associated with values, that are displayed in a particular arrangement. The player selected values are distributed to other values or cells according to one or more predefined rules. In one embodiment, one or more of the player selectable values are progressive award values. At some point during the game, the gaming system randomly picks one of the remaining values that have not been selected and provides an award to the player based at least in part on the selected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2024
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Ernie M. Lafky, Bryan D. Wolf, Paulina Rodgers, Cameron A. Filipour, Adam M. Meyer, Adam M. Singer
  • Publication number: 20240153351
    Abstract: Gaming systems, gaming devices and methods that provide games that control volatility. In one embodiment, the gaming system disclosed herein enables a player to select values, or cells associated with values, that are displayed in a particular arrangement. The player selected values are distributed to other values or cells according to one or more predefined rules. In one embodiment, one or more of the player selectable values are progressive award values. At some point during the game, the gaming system randomly picks one of the remaining values that have not been selected and provides an award to the player based at least in part on the selected value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2024
    Publication date: May 9, 2024
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Ernie M. Lafky, Bryan D. Wolf, Paulina Rodgers, Cameron A. Filipour, Adam M. Meyer, Adam M. Singer
  • Patent number: 11935359
    Abstract: Gaming systems, gaming devices and methods that provide games that control volatility. In one embodiment, the gaming system disclosed herein enables a player to select values, or cells associated with values, that are displayed in a particular arrangement. The player selected values are distributed to other values or cells according to one or more predefined rules. In one embodiment, one or more of the player selectable values are progressive award values. At some point during the game, the gaming system randomly picks one of the remaining values that have not been selected and provides an award to the player based at least in part on the selected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Ernie M. Lafky, Bryan D. Wolf, Paulina Rodgers, Cameron A. Filipour, Adam M. Meyer, Adam M. Singer
  • Publication number: 20240038017
    Abstract: Gaming systems and methods for determining zero, one or more awards based on one or more moveable wild reels associated with an increasing modifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2023
    Publication date: February 1, 2024
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, David Twomey, Luke Geraghty, Mark Claxton
  • Publication number: 20210110640
    Abstract: Gaming systems and methods for determining zero, one or more awards based on one or more moveable wild reels associated with an increasing modifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, David Twomey, Luke Geraghty, Mark Claxton
  • Publication number: 20210082246
    Abstract: Gaming systems, gaming devices and methods that provide games that control volatility. In one embodiment, the gaming system disclosed herein enables a player to select values, or cells associated with values, that are displayed in a particular arrangement. The player selected values are distributed to other values or cells according to one or more predefined rules. In one embodiment, one or more of the player selectable values are progressive award values. At some point during the game, the gaming system randomly picks one of the remaining values that have not been selected and provides an award to the player based at least in part on the selected value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Ernie M. Lafky, Bryan D. Wolf, Paulina Rodgers, Cameron A. Filipour, Adam M. Meyer, Adam M. Singer
  • Patent number: 10825285
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a gaming system and method providing a slot game including a symbol generator modification event. In various embodiments, the gaming system is configured to provide a slot game, each play of which employs a subset of a plurality of symbol generators. If a symbol generator modification event occurs in association with a first play that employs a first subset of the symbol generators, the gaming system removes one of the symbol generators from the first subset and adds another one of the plurality of symbol generators to the first subset to form a second subset, and employs the second subset for a second play. The gaming system removes and adds the symbol generators to form the second subset such that the average expected payback percentage of the second play is greater than the average expected payback percentage of the first play.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Leandro Basallo, Jon M. Leupp
  • Patent number: 10720022
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and methods for individually activating zero, one or more features in association with one or more elements or parameters of a play of a game. In these embodiments, upon an occurrence of a feature activation determination sequence triggering event, the gaming system enables a player to participate in a feature activation determination sequence to individually determine, for one or more displayed elements of a play of a game, whether or not to individually activate one or more features in association with such displayed elements for the play of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Jon M. Leupp, Joanne L. Mills
  • Patent number: 10699532
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a skill-based wagering game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Scott A. Caputo
  • Publication number: 20200105090
    Abstract: Gaming systems and methods for determining zero, one or more awards based on one or more moveable wild reels associated with an increasing modifier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, David Twomey, Luke Geraghty, Mark Claxton
  • Patent number: 10607439
    Abstract: Gaming systems and methods for accumulating designated symbols, wherein the form of the designated symbols accumulated as well as the quantity of designated symbols accumulated determine whether to activate a feature in one or more plays of a first game or trigger a secondary event, such as a win of a progressive award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventor: Scott A. Caputo
  • Publication number: 20200074784
    Abstract: Gaming systems and methods for accumulating designated symbols, wherein the form of the designated symbols accumulated as well as the quantity of designated symbols accumulated determine whether to activate a feature in one or more plays of a first game or trigger a secondary event, such as a win of a progressive award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Inventor: Scott A. Caputo
  • Patent number: 10546449
    Abstract: A gaming system including a cascading symbol or tumbling reel game which utilizes zero, one or more upgrades in association with zero, one or more shifting symbols. Upon an occurrence of an upgrade event, the gaming system upgrades one or more aspects or attributes of one or more games played. In certain embodiments, such upgrades pertain to upgrading one or more symbols displayed at one or more symbol display positions of one or more symbol display position grids. In certain other embodiments, such upgrades pertain to upgrading the award evaluation of one or more symbols displayed at one or more symbol display positions of one or more symbol display position grids. In certain other embodiments, such upgrades pertain to upgrading one or more attributes or features of one or more bonus or secondary games which are subsequently triggered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Mark C. Nicely, Brian F. Saunders, Colin M. Ferris, Leandro Basallo
  • Publication number: 20200027313
    Abstract: In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates generally to gaming systems and methods for individually activating zero, one or more features in association with one or more elements or parameters of a play of a game. In these embodiments, upon an occurrence of a feature activation determination sequence triggering event, the gaming system enables a player to participate in a feature activation determination sequence to individually determine, for one or more displayed elements of a play of a game, whether or not to individually activate one or more features in association with such displayed elements for the play of the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: January 23, 2020
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Jon M. Leupp, Joanne L. Mills
  • Patent number: 10540851
    Abstract: One embodiment provides a gaming system having a plurality of gaming devices. Each of the gaming devices enables a player to make wagers on plays of a primary game. For each gaming device, for each occurrence of a designated accumulation outcome, the player of that gaming device accumulates one or more positions on a bonus game display matrix. When a bonus game trigger occurs, the triggering gaming device is identified. In the bonus game, a plurality of symbols are displayed in the plurality of positions of the bonus game display matrix. The player of the triggering gaming device is provided with any awards associated with any winning symbol combinations formed by the displayed symbols. Additionally, for each assigned position of the bonus game display matrix that displays a symbol which is part of a winning symbol combination, a participation award is provided to the player assigned to that position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Scott A. Caputo, Bryan D. Wolf, Anthony J. Baerlocher
  • Patent number: 10482706
    Abstract: A gaming system displays a plurality of spaced-apart selections each associated with a masked award. One or more selectors are each associated with one or more players, and are visible to each player. The selectors are moveable amongst the spaced-apart selections based on a plurality of player inputs. For a play of the game, the players provide inputs to move the selectors amongst the spaced-apart selections. During such movement, the gaming system temporarily reveals the award associated with any spaced-apart selection in the vicinity of any selector to at least one player, such as the player whose selector is near the selection. After the play of the game has ended (e.g., based on an amount of elapsed time), the gaming system provides awards to the players based on the ending positions of the one or more selectors with respect to the plurality of spaced-apart selections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicely, Scott A. Caputo
  • Patent number: 10475283
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gaming system and method modifying of one or more options provided to a player based on the player's previously chosen options. When a triggering event occurs, the gaming system displays an indication of each of a first plurality of options and enables the player to choose one of the first plurality of options. The gaming system stores player choice data representing the player's chosen one of the first plurality of options. Upon an occurrence of one or more modification events, the gaming system modifies the first plurality of options based at least in part on which of the first plurality of options were previously chosen by the player. Following a subsequent occurrence of the triggering event, the gaming system displays an indication of each of the modified first plurality of options and enables the player to choose one of the modified first plurality of options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Kevin N. Taylor
  • Patent number: 10366570
    Abstract: A gaming system which includes a game sequence, such as a free game sequence, which enables a player to selectively apply modifiers after viewing the results of games. For a game associated with an available modifier, following the display of the results of that game, the gaming system enables the player to either utilize the available modifier for that game or accumulate another modifier to be potentially utilized for another game. If the player selects to utilize the available modifier, the gaming system modifies one or more aspects of the play of the game to result in a modified game outcome and/or a modified game award. If the player selects to not utilize the available modifier, the gaming system accumulates another modifier for the player, wherein the other modifier may or may not be subsequently utilized by the player to modify any designated aspects of a subsequent play of the game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Ernest M. Lafky, Brian F. Saunders, Jon M. Leupp
  • Patent number: 10360757
    Abstract: A gaming system and method including a plurality of gaming devices that may participate in a shared secondary or bonus game and a controller operable to communicate with said plurality of gaming devices. At least one of the plurality of gaming devices is programmed to generate and accumulate collectors upon an occurrence of a first triggering event. Upon an occurrence of a second triggering event at one of the gaming devices, the controller enables a player of said gaming device to redeem a quantity of accumulated collectors in a bonus event. The controller also enables the player to invite other gaming devices from the plurality of gaming devices to redeem accumulated collectors and participate in said bonus event. The odds of each player earning a higher-valued total award in the bonus event increases with the total number of accumulated collectors redeemed in the bonus event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Mark C. Nicely, Gregory H. Parrott
  • Patent number: 10332340
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a gaming system and method providing a bonus game customizable with features of one or more primary games. In various embodiments, the gaming system may trigger the customizable bonus game in association with a play of any one of a plurality of different primary games, each of which includes one or more features. Before providing a play of the customizable bonus game, the gaming system modifies the customizable bonus game to include one of the features of the primary game that triggered the customizable bonus game that is not included in any of the other primary games. The modification is in addition to at least one prior modification of the customizable bonus game. Thus, the gaming system enables a player to customize the combination of features included in the customizable bonus game by playing a variety of different primary games.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Scott A. Caputo, Brian F. Saunders