Patents by Inventor Stephen C. Tulley

Stephen C. Tulley 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).

  • Gaming system and method with accumulating equity
    Patent number: 8684817
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are described for conducting a secondary game at a gaming device. In various embodiments, a player may acquire equity in the secondary game in such forms as a location of a game character, a number of symbols aggregated, a degree of completion of a puzzle, or a defensive provision. Certain symbols or outcomes in a primary game, however, may cause the player to lose equity in the secondary game.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Stephen C. Tulley, David F. Zucker, Andrew D. Rogers, Geoffrey M. Gelman, Daniel F. Tedesco
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GAMING WITH ALTERNATE VALUE PAYOUTS
    Publication number: 20140087852
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for permitting a player to play a game at a gaming device. The gaming device provides a payout for the game. The payout is redeemable for one of a plurality of values, and at least two of the plurality of values are different from each other. The values typically have different corresponding forms of payout, such as cash or merchandise credits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Scott T. Friesen, Stephen C. Tulley, Geoffrey M. Gelman, Dean P. Alderucci
  • SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING A LEVEL OF REWARD
    Publication number: 20140080587
    Abstract: A gaming system and method which includes enabling a player to initiate a play of a game, for the initiated play of the game: (i) randomly generating a game outcome, (ii) displaying to the player the randomly generated game outcome, (iii) determining any award associated with the displayed game outcome, and (iv) displaying to the player any determined award, enabling the player to invite a quantity of other players to each initiate a play of at least one game, the quantity of other players being greater than zero, and if the player invited the quantity of other players, providing the player a benefit, an amount of the benefit being based on the quantity of other players invited.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Geoffrey M. Gelman, James A. Jorasch, Stephen C. Tulley, Steven M. Santisi, Daniel E. Tedesco, Magdalena M. Fincham
  • Method and apparatus for providing a time based award
    Patent number: 8672747
    Abstract: A method is provided for providing payments at a gaming device, where the payments may occur at predictable times and are of predictable amounts. In one or more embodiments, a gaming device may provide a guaranteed payment every hour on the hour, so long as a player meets one or more criteria. Criteria may include a total amount wagered, a total number of handle pulls completed, or a total amount of time spent at a gaming device. One or more embodiments provide a method for withholding value from a player in order that the value may delivered later in the form of a guaranteed payment. One or more embodiments provide a method whereby multiple gaming devices may provide payments simultaneously, thereby creating mutually reinforcing sounds and visual displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, David F. Zucker, Jose A. Suarez, Stephen C. Tulley, Geoffrey M. Gelman
  • Facilitating play of a gaming device in accordance with a contract
    Patent number: 8672743
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, systems, methods, and/or articles of manufacture are associated with determining an identifier associated with a player of a gaming device, determining information indicative of historical game play of the player, and determining, based at least upon the information indicative of the historical game play of the player and the identifier associated with the player, whether the player qualifies for a benefit pursuant to a gaming contract. Some embodiments are directed to receiving an indication of a gaming contract insurance claim associated with a gaming contract of a player, determining information indicative of a subset of historical game play of the player, and determining whether to provide a benefit to the player pursuant to the gaming contract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Geoffrey M. Gelman, Stephen C. Tulley, Daniel E. Tedesco, Robert C. Tedesco
  • Method and apparatus for providing a time based award
    Patent number: 8668579
    Abstract: A method is provided for providing payments at a gaming device, where the payments may occur at predictable times and are of predictable amounts. In one or more embodiments, a gaming device may provide a guaranteed payment every hour on the hour, so long as a player meets one or more criteria. Criteria may include a total amount wagered, a total number of handle pulls completed, or a total amount of time spent at a gaming device. One or more embodiments provide a method for withholding value from a player in order that the value may delivered later in the form of a guaranteed payment. One or more embodiments provide a method whereby multiple gaming devices may provide payments simultaneously, thereby creating mutually reinforcing sounds and visual displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, David F. Zucker, Jose A. Suarez, Stephen C. Tulley, Geoffrey M. Gelman
  • Systems and methods for executing games employing bonus amounts based on bonus characteristics
    Patent number: 8668572
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for providing a player of a gaming device entitlement to a bonus amount, wherein the bonus amount may not be immediately apparent or attainable by the player. A gaming device player may acquire symbols in the context of a reel-based slot machine game. Certain symbols may entitle the player to a bonus payout, the bonus being apparent or attainable by the player at a later point in time and based on certain characteristics associated with the impending benefit. For example, gaming device players may obtain virtual representations of shares of company stock, which may only be sold (yielding a bonus to the player) under certain conditions, as dictated by the gaming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Stephen C. Tulley
  • Products and processes for establishing multi-transaction relationships with customers of vending machines
    Patent number: 8666874
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various systems and methods for improving the establishment and management of vending machine subscriptions, including systems and methods for constructing, communicating, and registering subscriptions, as well as various methods for processing the redemption of vending machine subscription items. Several additional embodiments are disclosed, including various alternate methods of promoting longitudinal machine-customer relationships.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Inventor Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Paul T. Breitenbach, Sih Y. Lee, Paul D. Signorelli, Stephen C. Tulley, Daniel E. Tedesco, James A. Jorasch, Geoffrey M. Gelman, Robert C. Tedesco
  • GAMEPLAY-ALTERING PORTABLE WAGERING MEDIA
    Publication number: 20140045584
    Abstract: Portable wagering media may be utilized to alter play of wagering games.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Robert C. Tedesco, Daniel E. Tedesco, Stephen C. Tulley, Gregory J. Scribner, James A. Jorasch, Carson C.K. Fincham, Zachary T. Smith, Russell P. Sammon, Jeffrey Y. Hayashida
  • System for providing offers using a billing statement
    Patent number: 8645202
    Abstract: A billing statement according to one aspect of the invention includes a description of a transaction and an offer pointer associated with the transaction, wherein the offer pointer includes information that may be used to review an offer. In one example of this aspect, a telephone number or a hyperlink is provided adjacent to a total amount owed listed on a statement (e.g., an electronically-displayed billing statement). The offers reviewed may be customized, for example, based on details of the transaction such as the product purchased or the amount of the purchase, the identity of the consumer, and/or on other data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Daniel E. Tedesco, Stephen C. Tulley, Timothy A. Palmer, Russell Pratt Sammon, John M. Packes, Jr., Geoffrey M. Gelman, Kurt M. Maschoff, Andrew M. Golden, Michiko Kobayashi
  • Method and system for video poker
    Patent number: 8636573
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention comprises a method including steps of populating a primary set of card positions with a first set of initial cards, determining at least one discarded card from the first set of initial cards, replacing the at least one discarded card from the first set of initial cards with replacement cards to form a final set of cards, and determining whether to include the at least one discarded card in at least one secondary set of card positions. If the at least one discarded card is to be included in the at least one secondary set of card positions, the method further provides for populating the at least one secondary set of card positions with the at least one discarded card. Some embodiments of the present invention also provide for determining a payout based on at least the final set of cards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Magdalena M. Fincham, Jason Krantz, Victor M. Garcia, Geoffrey M. Gelman, Daniel E. Tedesco, Stephen C. Tulley
  • GAMING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AND REDEEMING PARTIAL WAGERING GAME OUTCOMES
    Publication number: 20140018176
    Abstract: Methods, computer readable media and systems related to wagering games, and in particular those that concern providing and redeeming partial game outcomes. One example method includes receiving a completion request from a player who is operating a gaming device to complete at least one partial game outcome. The partial game outcome was previously provided to the player, who used a first device that is different than the gaming device. This example method includes determining that the player is entitled to a complete game outcome, displaying the partial game outcome on the gaming device, determining the complete game outcome, and then displaying the complete game outcome.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Robert C. Tedesco, Daniel E. Tedesco, Jeffrey Y. Hayashida, Russell P. Sammon, Stephen C. Tulley
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GAMING WITH ALTERNATE VALUE PAYOUTS
    Publication number: 20140011580
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for permitting a player to play a game at a gaming device. The gaming device provides a payout for the game. The payout is redeemable for one of a plurality of values, and at least two of the plurality of values are different from each other. The values typically have different corresponding forms of payout, such as cash or merchandise credits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Scott T. Friesen, Stephen C. Tulley, Geoffrey M. Gelman, Dean P. Alderucci
  • Method and apparatus for determining a game series comprising a plurality of individually selectable wagering games
    Patent number: 8602863
    Abstract: A wagering method is provided that allows players or gaming establishments to specify conditions which when satisfied, reconfigure the gaming device to change game play from a first game to a second game. The condition may depend upon the value of a parameter—generally related to game play—to determine if the condition is valid and triggers the reconfiguration. The second game may be selected from a game on the same gaming device, from a game on a different gaming device, or a game played by a specific player.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Robert C. Tedesco, James A. Jorasch, Daniel E. Tedesco, Stephen C. Tulley
  • Methods and Apparatus for Managing Network Linked Gambling Video Games
    Publication number: 20130324224
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for team play in video games is provided. One method includes receiving a request to initiate a gambling game for a player of a first network connected device, and joining a second player from a second networked connected device to a team. The method enables transfer of currency between the first and second players of the team using the networked during play of the gambling game. The method enables debiting an account of a player that transferred the currency and crediting an account of a player that that received the currency, and enabling wagers in the gambling game using the credited currency. The method enables displaying an avatar of the first player on a display of the second networked connected device; and displaying an avatar of the second player on a display of the first networked connected device, the method being executed by at least one processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Zynga Inc.
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Magdelena M. Fincham, Geoffrey M. Gelman, Stephen C. Tulley, Daniel E. Tedesco, Robert C. Tedesco
  • Video content determinative keno game system and method
    Patent number: 8597101
    Abstract: A keno game is tied to video content such that events in the video content determine the outcome of the keno game. The outcome determinative events are selected from a set of potential outcome determinative events and marked with cues when the video content is displayed to the keno players and other video content watchers. The cues may be audible or visual and accentuate the fact that an outcome determinative event has occurred. If the player's wager has enough of the outcome determinative events selected relative to the actual outcome determinative events, the player may receive a benefit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Russell P. Sammon, Jeffrey Y. Hayashida, Daniel E. Tedesco, Stephen C. Tulley
  • Methods and apparatus for managing an account to fund benefits for a player
    Patent number: 8591319
    Abstract: An account is established for a player of a gaming device. The balance of the account is increased if a predetermined condition is satisfied. Disbursements from the account may be made if a predetermined condition is satisfied. A disbursement may be in the form of a payout, bonus, or other benefit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Jay W. Walker, James A. Jorasch, Stephen C. Tulley, Geoffrey M. Gelman, Magdalena M. Fincham
  • GROUP PLAY OF A LOTTERY GAME
    Publication number: 20130310133
    Abstract: Methods and systems for facilitating play of group lottery games are described. In an embodiment, a process includes establishing at least two groups for play of a group lottery game, wherein each group includes a plurality of players. The method also includes determining at least one winning player from each group of a first round of the multiplayer lottery game, and advancing each of the winning players to a second round.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Michael W. Patterson, Nancy Palumbo, Stephen C. Tulley
  • SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING MULTI-ROUND LOTTERY PLAY
    Publication number: 20130303253
    Abstract: Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for facilitating play of multi-round lottery games. In one embodiment, a player may be allowed to change one or more of various aspects of a wager in a multi-round lottery game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: Walker Digital, LLC
    Inventors: Jay S. Walker, Zachary T. Smith, Russell P. Salmon, Stephen C. Tulley, Jeffrey Y. Hayashida
  • Systems and methods wherein a lottery number combination is associated with a limited number of occurrences
    Patent number: 8579692
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to facilitate lottery ticket transactions. A request to purchase a lottery ticket is received, the lottery ticket being associated with a lottery number combination, such as a limited number of lottery tickets or a limited number of players. An indication that the lottery number combination is to be associated with a limited number of occurrences is also received. For example, an indication that the lottery number combination is to be associated with only a single lottery ticket may be received. A price associated with the lottery ticket is determined based on the received indication. According to one embodiment, the price is increased by a predetermined amount based on the received indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Walker Digital Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen C. Tulley, John M. Packes, Jr., James A. Jorasch, Jay S. Walker, Patrick J. Buckley, Peter J. Vogel, Magdalena M. Fincham, Norman C. Gilman, Keith Bemer, Russell Pratt Sammon, William P. Van Vooren, Andrew P. Golden, Michael F. Steib