Patents by Inventor Scott Monroe Stewart

Scott Monroe Stewart 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: 20160300436
    Abstract: A gaming system comprising a display area and a player symbol selector for selecting the player symbols from a plurality of player symbols. The player symbol selector comprises a plurality of reels and each reel has a plurality of player symbols. The player symbol selector is arranged so that selected player symbols are displayed at an array of display positions when the reels are stationary. A display position selector enables a player to select, prior to stopping of the reels, groups of display positions. An award allocator allocates an award associated with a winning combination of the player symbols when a winning combination of the player symbols is displayed along a win line. The player symbol selector is arranged so that each one of different player symbols of each reel has the same probability to be displayed at any one of the display positions associated with that reel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventor: Scott Monroe Stewart
  • Patent number: 9466184
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which includes a plurality of spinners, each spinner being associated with a plurality of display positions and having a plurality of symbols disposable at the display positions. A spinner controller is arranged to select the symbols to appear at the display positions for each spinner, and an outcome evaluator is arranged to determine whether the symbols shown at the display positions correspond to at least one winning outcome by reference to at least one defined win condition. Each win condition comprises a win line having at least three display positions from two adjacent spinners. A corresponding method of gaming is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Bond, Stephen C. Jones, Philip Jeffrey Anderson, Scott Monroe Stewart, Gary Frerking
  • Patent number: 9367999
    Abstract: A gaming system comprising a display area and a player symbol selector for selecting the player symbols from a plurality of player symbols. The player symbol selector comprises a plurality of reels and each reel has a plurality of player symbols. The player symbol selector is arranged so that selected player symbols are displayed at an array of display positions when the reels are stationary. A display position selector enables a player to select, prior to stopping of the reels, groups of display positions. An award allocator allocates an award associated with a winning combination of the player symbols when a winning combination of the player symbols is displayed along a win line. The player symbol selector is arranged so that each one of different player symbols of each reel has the same probability to be displayed at any one of the display positions associated with that reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Scott Monroe Stewart
  • Publication number: 20150287288
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which includes a plurality of spinners, each spinner being associated with a plurality of display positions and having a plurality of symbols disposable at the display positions. A spinner controller is arranged to select the symbols to appear at the display positions for each spinner, and an outcome evaluator is arranged to determine whether the symbols shown at the display positions correspond to at least one winning outcome by reference to at least one defined win condition. Each win condition comprises a win line having at least three display positions from two adjacent spinners. A corresponding method of gaming is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Bond, Stephen C. Jones, Philip Jeffrey Anderson, Scott Monroe Stewart, Gary Frerking
  • Patent number: 9123198
    Abstract: A bonus game controller is disclosed for use with a plurality of gaming machines in networked relationship with the bonus game controller. The bonus game controller comprises a trigger determiner arranged to determine whether a bonus trigger signal has occurred at a gaming device. The bonus game controller is arranged to implement a first bonus game when a bonus trigger signal occurs at a gaming device, and also comprises a bonus prize allocator arranged to allocate a bonus prize to the gaming device based on an outcome of the first bonus game and based on one or more respective outcomes of at least one other subsequent bonus game implemented within a qualification period. A gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices and a game controller is also disclosed. A corresponding method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Bond, Darnell Alfonso Johnson, Gary Frerking, John Wootress, Jr., Scott Monroe Stewart
  • Patent number: 8979640
    Abstract: A method of player tracking for gaming, the method including: receiving a player identifier at a player identifier input device associated with a gaming terminal; monitoring play of the gaming terminal in response to receipt of the player identifier, the monitoring being performed to determine whether to take any action in respect of a player record of a player tracking module corresponding to the player identifier, the monitoring being carried out such that if the player identifier was received by being read from a player tracking device by the player identifier input device and the player tracking device is removed from a position at which the player tracking device can be read, the monitoring continues after the player tracking device is removed; and stopping monitoring of play of the gaming terminal automatically in response to at least one end condition occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Scott Monroe Stewart
  • Patent number: 8771055
    Abstract: Certain examples disclose a gaming system comprising a display, a symbol selector, a symbol evaluator and a symbol modifier. The example symbol selector is arranged to select a plurality of sets of symbols for display on the display. The example symbol evaluator is arranged to determine whether the displayed symbols include any winning symbol combination. The example symbol modifier is arranged to, upon a determination that the displayed symbols include any winning symbol combination, repeatedly apply a modification rule to at least one of the plurality of sets of symbols until the displayed symbols do not include any winning symbol combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Gary Joseph Penacho, Casey Lyle Condron, Scott Monroe Stewart, Douglas Huang
  • Patent number: 8758129
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed that comprises a plurality of rotatable reels, each reel comprising a plurality of selectable symbols corresponding to respective reel stopping positions. The system includes a symbol selector arranged to select a stopping position for each reel and thereby select at least one symbol from each reel, and a reel controller arranged to control rotation of the reels such that the reels rotate during implementation of a game in order to move the reels to the selected stopping positions and thereby display the selected symbols in a display area. The reel controller is arranged to control rotation of the reels such that each reel rotates less than one full rotation to the selected reel stopping position. A corresponding method of gaming is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Douglas Da Huang, Scott Monroe Stewart
  • Publication number: 20140162754
    Abstract: A gaming system in which at least one symbol is selected for display in at least one but not all of a plurality of display position groups. The player indicates whether to keep the symbols displayed in the first set of display position groups before symbols are selected for a second set of display position groups. If not kept, symbols are re-selected for the first set of display position groups. Symbols are then selected for display in the second set of display position groups.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Applicant: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Tricia Tylman, Gary Joseph Penacho, Scott Monroe Stewart
  • Patent number: 8684358
    Abstract: A reel assembly for a gaming system is disclosed. The reel assembly comprises a spinnable reel drum having a ring member, at least one support strut extending from the ring member and serving to mount the ring member such that the ring member is spinnable during use, and a reel strip. The ring member and the reel strip are arranged such that at least part of the reel strip is engageable with the ring member so as to retain the reel strip relative to the ring member during spinning of the reel drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Scott Monroe Stewart
  • Publication number: 20140018148
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed that comprises a selector arranged to select a plurality of first symbols from a first set of symbols for display in a display position area, and a shutter device selectively disposable in a closed configuration wherein the display position area is concealed or an open configuration wherein the display position area is revealed. The gaming system is arranged to select a plurality of second symbols from a second set of symbols. The shutter device comprises a display device arranged to display the selected second symbols at a location corresponding to the display position area when the shutter device is disposed in the closed configuration. A corresponding method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Scott Monroe Stewart, Tricia Tylman
  • Publication number: 20140011567
    Abstract: A gaming system is provided, the gaming system including a plurality of reels, each reel having a plurality of display positions at which symbols can be positioned for display. The gaming system further includes a reel display controller arranged so as to reveal symbols that are positioned at display positions of at least one reel to a player, or to hide symbols that are positioned at the display positions of the at least one reel from the player. The gaming system is arranged to spin the reels in an initial spin, during which symbols positioned at the display positions of the at least one reel are revealed. The gaming system is then arranged to reposition the at least one reel after the initial spin and while symbols positioned at the display positions of the at least one reel are hidden and to reveal symbols displayed at the display positions of the at least one reel after the at least one reel has been repositioned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventors: Gary Joseph Penacho, Tricia Tylman, Scott Monroe Stewart
  • Publication number: 20130344951
    Abstract: A method of player tracking for gaming, the method including: receiving a player identifier at a player identifier input device associated with a gaming terminal; monitoring play of the gaming terminal in response to receipt of the player identifier, the monitoring being performed to determine whether to take any action in respect of a player record of a player tracking module corresponding to the player identifier, the monitoring being carried out such that if the player identifier was received by being read from a player tracking device by the player identifier input device and the player tracking device is removed from a position at which the player tracking device can be read, the monitoring continues after the player tracking device is removed; and stopping monitoring of play of the gaming terminal automatically in response to at least one end condition occurring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventor: Scott Monroe Stewart
  • Publication number: 20130337884
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed that comprises a selector arranged to select a plurality of symbols for display in a plurality of display position groups. The gaming system is arranged to facilitate selection of at least one display position group, and so as to make symbols in the selected display position group(s) less visible than symbols in other non-selected display position groups. The gaming system is also arranged so as to determine a first game outcome based on the visible symbols. After the first game outcome is determined, the symbols in the selected display position group(s) are made as visible as symbols in the non-selected display position groups, and the system then determines a second game outcome based on all symbols now visibly displayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Casey Lyle Condron, Peter Jude Mastera, Scott Monroe Stewart
  • Publication number: 20130316780
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which includes a plurality of spinners, each spinner being associated with a plurality of display positions and having a plurality of symbols disposable at the display positions. A spinner controller is arranged to select the symbols to appear at the display positions for each spinner, and an outcome evaluator is arranged to determine whether the symbols shown at the display positions correspond to at least one winning outcome by reference to at least one defined win condition. Each win condition comprises a win line having at least three display positions from two adjacent spinners. A corresponding method of gaming is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Bond, Stephen C. Jones, Philip Jeffrey Anderson, Scott Monroe Stewart, Gary Frerking
  • Patent number: 8517815
    Abstract: A gaming system is disclosed which includes a plurality of spinners, each spinner being associated with a plurality of display positions and having a plurality of symbols disposable at the display positions. A spinner controller is arranged to select the symbols to appear at the display positions for each spinner, and an outcome evaluator is arranged to determine whether the symbols shown at the display positions correspond to at least one winning outcome by reference to at least one defined win condition. Each win condition comprises a win line having at least three display positions from two adjacent spinners. A corresponding method of gaming is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Bond, Stephen C. Jones, Philip Jeffrey Anderson, Scott Monroe Stewart, Gary Frerking
  • Patent number: 8500550
    Abstract: A method of player tracking for gaming, the method including: receiving a player identifier at a player identifier input device associated with a gaming terminal; monitoring play of the gaming terminal in response to receipt of the player identifier, the monitoring being performed to determine whether to take any action in respect of a player record of a player tracking module corresponding to the player identifier, the monitoring being carried out such that if the player identifier was received by being read from a player tracking device by the player identifier input device and the player tracking device is removed from a position at which the player tracking device can be read, the monitoring continues after the player tracking device is removed; and stopping monitoring of play of the gaming terminal automatically in response to at least one end condition occurring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Limited
    Inventor: Scott Monroe Stewart
  • Publication number: 20130165218
    Abstract: A bonus game controller is disclosed for use with a plurality of gaming machines in networked relationship with the bonus game controller. The bonus game controller comprises a trigger determiner arranged to determine whether a bonus trigger signal has occurred at a gaming device. The bonus game controller is arranged to implement a first bonus game when a bonus trigger signal occurs at a gaming device, and also comprises a bonus prize allocator arranged to allocate a bonus prize to the gaming device based on an outcome of the first bonus game and based on one or more respective outcomes of at least one other subsequent bonus game implemented within a qualification period. A gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices and a game controller is also disclosed. A corresponding method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Bond, Darnell Alfonso Johnson, Gary Frerking, John Wootress, JR., Scott Monroe Stewart
  • Publication number: 20130012294
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gaming machine having mechanical spinning reels and display units mounted inside the reels that are driven between a retracted position and a forward position. The display unit is displaced inwardly toward a central axis of the reel when located in the retracted position, and in this position the reel is free to rotate in response to a wager being placed. The display unit is located closer toward the outer periphery of the reel when in the forward position and in registration with a variable display when the reel is stopped. Movement of the display unit between the retracted and forward positions minimizes parallax effects and increases enjoyment for a player.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Inventor: Scott Monroe Stewart
  • Patent number: 8342955
    Abstract: A bonus game controller is disclosed for use with a plurality of gaming machines in networked relationship with the bonus game controller. The bonus game controller comprises a trigger determiner arranged to determine whether a bonus trigger signal has occurred at a gaming device. The bonus game controller is arranged to implement a first bonus game when a bonus trigger signal occurs at a gaming device, and also comprises a bonus prize allocator arranged to allocate a bonus prize to the gaming device based on an outcome of the first bonus game and based on one or more respective outcomes of at least one other subsequent bonus game implemented within a qualification period. A gaming system including a plurality of gaming devices and a game controller is also disclosed. A corresponding method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty, Ltd.
    Inventors: Anthony Wayne Bond, Darnell Alfonso Johnson, Gary Frerking, John Wootress, Jr., Scott Monroe Stewart