Patents by Inventor Terrance William Oliver

Terrance William Oliver 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: 9830773
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus which, for each of a plurality of plays of a primary game: randomly generates one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes, displays the generated primary game outcome, and displays any award associated with the displayed primary game outcome. If a bonus triggering event occurs, the gaming apparatus: determines a first part of a constant value, causes the determined first part of the constant value to be provided to a first player, determines a second part of the constant value, wherein the determined first part of the constant value and the determined second part of the constant value form the constant value, and causes the determined second part of the constant value to fund a designated award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Olaf Vancura, Terrance William Oliver
  • Patent number: 9741206
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus which, for each of a plurality of plays of a primary game: randomly generates one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes, displays the generated primary game outcome, and displays any award associated with the displayed primary game outcome. If a bonus triggering event occurs, the gaming apparatus: determines a first part of a constant value, causes the determined first part of the constant value to be provided to a first player, determines a second part of the constant value, wherein the determined first part of the constant value and the determined second part of the constant value form the constant value, and causes the determined second part of the constant value to fund a designated award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Olaf Vancura, Terrance William Oliver
  • Publication number: 20160063814
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus which, for each of a plurality of plays of a primary game: randomly generates one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes, displays the generated primary game outcome, and displays any award associated with the displayed primary game outcome. If a bonus triggering event occurs, the gaming apparatus: determines a first part of a constant value, causes the determined first part of the constant value to be provided to a first player, determines a second part of the constant value, wherein the determined first part of the constant value and the determined second part of the constant value form the constant value, and causes the determined second part of the constant value to fund a designated award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Publication date: March 3, 2016
    Inventors: Olaf Vancura, Terrance William Oliver
  • Publication number: 20140295954
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus which, for each of a plurality of plays of a primary game: randomly generates one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes, displays the generated primary game outcome, and displays any award associated with the displayed primary game outcome. If a bonus triggering event occurs, the gaming apparatus: determines a first part of a constant value, causes the determined first part of the constant value to be provided to a first player, determines a second part of the constant value, wherein the determined first part of the constant value and the determined second part of the constant value form the constant value, and causes the determined second part of the constant value to fund a designated award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Olaf Vancura, Terrance William Oliver
  • Patent number: 8770585
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus which, for each of a plurality of plays of a primary game: randomly generates one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes, displays the generated primary game outcome, and displays any award associated with the displayed primary game outcome. If a bonus triggering event occurs, the gaming apparatus: determines a first part of a constant value, causes the determined first part of the constant value to be provided to a first player, determines a second part of the constant value, wherein the determined first part of the constant value and the determined second part of the constant value form the constant value, and causes the determined second part of the constant value to fund a designated award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Olaf Vancura, Terrance William Oliver
  • Publication number: 20140004933
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus which, for each of a plurality of plays of a primary game: randomly generates one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes, displays the generated primary game outcome, and displays any award associated with the displayed primary game outcome. If a bonus triggering event occurs, the gaming apparatus: determines a first part of a constant value, causes the determined first part of the constant value to be provided to a first player, determines a second part of the constant value, wherein the determined first part of the constant value and the determined second part of the constant value form the constant value, and causes the determined second part of the constant value to fund a designated award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Olaf Vancura, Terrance William Oliver
  • Patent number: 8528908
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus which, for each of a plurality of plays of a primary game: randomly generates one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes, displays the generated primary game outcome, and displays any award associated with the displayed primary game outcome. If a bonus triggering event occurs, the gaming apparatus: determines a first part of a constant value, causes the determined first part of the constant value to be provided to a first player, determines a second part of the constant value, wherein the determined first part of the constant value and the determined second part of the constant value form the constant value, and causes the determined second part of the constant value to fund a designated award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Olaf Vancura, Terrance William Oliver
  • Patent number: 8430407
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus which, for each of a plurality of plays of a primary game: randomly generates one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes, displays the generated primary game outcome, and displays any award associated with the displayed primary game outcome. If a bonus triggering event occurs, the gaming apparatus: determines a first part of a constant value, causes the determined first part of the constant value to be provided to a first player, determines a second part of the constant value, wherein the determined first part of the constant value and the determined second part of the constant value form the constant value, and causes the determined second part of the constant value to fund a designated award.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Olaf Vancura, Terrance William Oliver
  • Publication number: 20120276988
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus which, for each of a plurality of plays of a primary game: randomly generates one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes, displays the generated primary game outcome, and displays any award associated with the displayed primary game outcome. If a bonus triggering event occurs, the gaming apparatus: determines a first part of a constant value, causes the determined first part of the constant value to be provided to a first player, determines a second part of the constant value, wherein the determined first part of the constant value and the determined second part of the constant value form the constant value, and causes the determined second part of the constant value to fund a designated award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Olaf Vancura, Terrance William Oliver
  • Patent number: 8240670
    Abstract: A method of a house apportionment of a bonus value is used to pay during play of a bonus game. Entry of the bonus game is achieved during play of an underlying game of chance. The method of house apportionment includes steps of awarding the player a portion of the bonus value for the bonus game and adding the remainder of the bonus value to at least one escrow account available to reward the player or subsequent players.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: IGT
    Inventors: Olaf Vancura, Terrance William Oliver
  • Publication number: 20120064959
    Abstract: A gaming apparatus which, for each of a plurality of plays of a primary game: randomly generates one of a plurality of different primary game outcomes, displays the generated primary game outcome, and displays any award associated with the displayed primary game outcome. If a bonus triggering event occurs, the gaming apparatus: determines a first part of a constant value, causes the determined first part of the constant value to be provided to a first player, determines a second part of the constant value, wherein the determined first part of the constant value and the determined second part of the constant value form the constant value, and causes the determined second part of the constant value to fund a designated award.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Olaf Vancura, Terrance William Oliver
  • Publication number: 20090264193
    Abstract: A method of a house apportionment of a bonus value is used to pay during play of a bonus game. Entry of the bonus game is achieved during play of an underlying game of chance. The method of house apportionment includes steps of awarding the player a portion of the bonus value for the bonus game and adding the remainder of the bonus value to at least one escrow account available to reward the player or subsequent players. The awarding step is based on bonus games including the step of knowledge-based playing. The awarding step of the knowledge-based bonus game includes the step of knowledge-based playing by answering, selecting or guessing the appropriate responses to questions. The step of knowledge-based playing includes the step of selecting or guessing the appropriate answers to multiple choice questions. The step of knowledge-based playing by answering, selecting or guessing includes the step of challenging the player with questions having a common theme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: IGT
    Inventors: Olaf . Vancura, Terrance William Oliver
  • Patent number: 7360764
    Abstract: A method of a house apportionment of a bonus value is used to pay during play of a bonus game. Entry of the bonus game is achieved during play of an underlying game of chance. The method of house apportionment includes steps of awarding the player a portion of the bonus value for the bonus game and adding the remainder of the bonus value to at least one escrow account available to reward the player or subsequent players. The awarding step is based on bonus games including the step of knowledge-based playing. The awarding step of the knowledge-based bonus game includes the step of knowledge-based playing by answering, selecting or guessing the appropriate responses to questions. The step of knowledge-based playing includes the step of selecting or guessing the appropriate answers to multiple choice questions. The step of knowledge-based playing by answering, selecting or guessing includes the step of challenging the player with questions having a common theme.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Progressive Gaming International Corporation
    Inventors: Olaf Vancura, Terrance William Oliver
  • Publication number: 20040160009
    Abstract: A method of a house apportionment of a bonus value is used to pay during play of a bonus game. Entry of the bonus game is achieved during play of an underlying game of chance. The method of house apportionment includes steps of awarding the player a portion of the bonus value for the bonus game and adding the remainder of the bonus value to at least one escrow account available to reward the player or subsequent players. The awarding step is based on bonus games including the step of knowledge-based playing. The awarding step of the knowledge-based bonus game includes the step of knowledge-based playing by answering, selecting or guessing the appropriate responses to questions. The step of knowledge-based playing includes the step of selecting or guessing the appropriate answers to multiple choice questions. The step of knowledge-based playing by answering, selecting or guessing includes the step of challenging the player with questions having a common theme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Olaf Vancura, Terrance William Oliver
  • Patent number: 6692005
    Abstract: A method of a house apportionment of a bonus value during bonus casino game play, entry for which occurs during play of an underlying game of chance. A method of house apportionment awards the player a portion of the bonus value for the bonus game and adds the remainder of the bonus value to at least one account available to reward subsequent players such that the bonus value paid by the house is constant and the house advantage is fixed regardless of player proficiency in the bonus casino game. The bonus casino games include knowledge-based playing. The step of awarding in the bonus game is a function of the wager, the frequency that the bonus game occurs, the expected return in the game without the bonus and the expected bonus monitoring pay out value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: Mikohn Gaming Corporation
    Inventors: Olaf Vancura, Terrance William Oliver
  • Publication number: 20040023712
    Abstract: A method playing a live casino game by including a jackpot as a required feature in which each player makes at least one mandatory jackpot wager to play the game and a player makes a separate wager to win a separate, additional payoff amount. Each player makes at least one mandatory jackpot wager as an ante wager before making a wager and participating in the underlying live casino game. The ante wager is separated into a casino portion and a jackpot-funding portion. The pay tables and rules of the game are set to return wagers for optimal play over time as payoffs to players on the basis of a zero or near zero negative house advantage. The pay tables for the jackpot feature and the live casino game are displayed to the player. The underlying game is played according to the rule of play for the game.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Inventor: Terrance William Oliver
  • Publication number: 20030193139
    Abstract: A method of a house apportionment of a bonus value is used to pay during play of a bonus game. Entry of the bonus game is achieved during play of an underlying game of chance. The method of house apportionment includes steps of awarding the player a portion of the bonus value for the bonus game and adding the remainder of the bonus value to at least one escrow account available to reward the player or subsequent players. The awarding step is based on bonus games including the step of knowledge-based playing. The awarding step of the knowledge-based bonus game includes the step of knowledge-based playing by answering, selecting or guessing the appropriate responses to questions. The step of knowledge-based playing includes the step of selecting or guessing the appropriate answers to multiple choice questions. The step of knowledge-based playing by answering, selecting or guessing includes the step of challenging the player with questions having a common theme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Olaf Vancura, Terrance William Oliver
  • Patent number: 6554283
    Abstract: A method of house apportionment of a bonus value during bonus casino game play, entry for which occurs during play of an underlying game of chance. A method of house apportionment awards the player a portion of the bonus value for the bonus game and adds the remainder of the bonus value to at least one account available to reward subsequent players such that the bonus value paid by the house is constant and the house advantage is fixed regardless of player proficiency in the bonus casino game. The bonus casino games include knowledge-based playing. The step of awarding in the bonus game is a function of the wager, the frequency that the bonus game occurs, the expected return in the game without the bonus and the expected bonus monitoring pay out value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Mikohn Gaming Corporation
    Inventors: Olaf Vancura, Terrance William Oliver
  • Publication number: 20020190471
    Abstract: A method of a house apportionment of a bonus value is used to pay during play of a bonus game. Entry of the bonus game is achieved during play of an underlying game of chance. The method of house apportionment includes steps of awarding the player a portion of the bonus value for the bonus game and adding the remainder of the bonus value to at least one escrow account available to reward the player or subsequent players. The awarding step is based on bonus games including the step of knowledge-based playing. The awarding step of the knowledge-based bonus game includes the step of knowledge-based playing by answering, selecting or guessing the appropriate responses to questions. The step of knowledge-based playing includes the step of selecting or guessing the appropriate answers to multiple choice questions. The step of knowledge-based playing by answering, selecting or guessing includes the step of challenging the player with questions having a common theme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Olaf Vancura, Terrance William Oliver
  • Patent number: 6435511
    Abstract: A method of a house apportionment of a bonus value during bonus casino game play, entry for which occurs during play of an underlying game of chance. The method of house apportionment awards the player a portion of the bonus value for the bonus game and adds the remainder of the bonus value to at least one progressive account available to reward subsequent players, such that the bonus value paid by the house is constant and the house advantage is fixed regardless of player proficiency in the bonus casino game. The bonus casino games include knowledge-based playing. The knowledge-based bonus casino game includes a player answering, selecting, or guessing the proper responses to questions. The answering, selecting, or guessing has the step of challenging the player with questions having a common theme or varying difficulty. The knowledge-based playing has the step of asking the player questions the bonus value of which is measured against survey responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Mikohn Gaming Corporation
    Inventors: Olaf Vancura, Terrance William Oliver